WHO expert advisory committee on developing global standards for governance and oversight of human genome editing: report of the fourth meeting

Overview

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) has established a global, multi-disciplinary expert panel to examine the scientific, ethical, social and legal challenges associated with human genome editing (both somatic and germline). The Committee includes members from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, North America and South America.

The Committee has been tasked to advise and make recommendations on appropriate institutional, national, regional and global governance mechanisms for human genome editing. During the course of its work, the Committee will review literature on current human genome editing research and its applications, consider existing proposals for governance and relevant ongoing initiatives, as well as solicit information about societal attitudes towards the different uses of this technology. The Committee will explore how best to promote transparent and trustworthy practices and how to ensure appropriate assessments are performed prior to any relevant work being undertaken.

Work of the previous meeting

The Committee held its third meeting from 25 to 26 February 2020. The meeting focused on hearing the views and insights of those often excluded from international science policy processes. The meeting included contributions by African research organizations, community groups from Africa, and African bioethicists, as well as first-hand testimony from those affected by conditions that have been connected to human genome editing. The meeting was also briefed on satellite meetings supported by Committee members in other parts of the world. During closed working sessions, the Committee heard an initial overview of responses to its first online consultation; considered updates and reports from its working groups; continued to develop its governance framework; and developed plans for a second online consultation, taking into account lessons learned from its earlier consultation. The meeting outcome focused on revising and restructuring the governance framework in light of feedback. The Committee also considered how it might capture, in its future work, systemic issues connected to public health and sustainable development agendas that are likely to have a notable impact on the future development of human genome editing. A report of the meeting is available online.