{"id":197292,"date":"2026-07-26T03:33:04","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T09:03:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=197292"},"modified":"2026-07-26T03:33:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T09:03:04","slug":"chinese-university-investigates-six-year-olds-death-allegedly-tied-to-experimental-gene-editing-therapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=197292","title":{"rendered":"Chinese university investigates six\u2011year\u2011old\u2019s death allegedly tied to experimental gene\u2011editing therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>                                        BEIJING, July 26 \u2014 A Chinese university is looking into reports that a gene-editing trial caused the death of a six-year-old girl, which was not disclosed in the published research, the school said today.<\/p>\n<p>The girl, given the pseudonym \u201cMei\u201d, died last year around a week after receiving a spinal infusion of trillions of viruses designed to penetrate the brain for treatment, according to a joint investigation by Science and Retraction Watch.<\/p>\n<p>The experimental gene therapy was meant to fix a rare genetic condition that caused a delay in cognitive development, the report said on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>Neuroscientist Zilong Qiu, the lead researcher, went on to publish a paper on related animal studies in the prestigious journal Nature that made no mention of Mei.<\/p>\n<p>In response, the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine said in a statement that it \u201cattaches great importance to the matter and has set up a special working group to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe School of Medicine has always attached great importance to scientific research integrity and research norms, and firmly opposes conducting medical scientific research in violation of scientific research ethics,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n<p>The statement added that \u201cserious action\u201d would be taken in accordance with the investigation\u2019s findings.<\/p>\n<p>Mei\u2019s parents, who paid more than US$800,000 (RM3.2 million) to fund the experiment, were not adequately informed about the risks, the report by Science and Retraction Watch said.<\/p>\n<p>Qiu was aiming to offer the world\u2019s first gene-editing therapy directed at the brain, rewriting the mutated gene in her neurons so she could make a vital protein, it said.<\/p>\n<p>The previously undisclosed death is a fresh blow to China\u2019s ambitions to rival the United States as a biotech power following the 2018 scandal around He Jiankui, a biophysicist who secretly produced gene-edited babies. \u2014 AFP<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.malaymail.com\/news\/world\/2026\/07\/26\/chinese-university-investigates-sixyearolds-death-allegedly-tied-to-experimental-geneediting-therapy\/229041\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>BEIJING, July 26 \u2014 A Chinese university is looking into reports that a gene-editing trial caused the death of a six-year-old girl, which was not disclosed in the published research, the school said today. The girl, given the pseudonym \u201cMei\u201d, died last year around a week after receiving a spinal infusion of trillions of viruses&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":197293,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-197292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/353885.jpg","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":194976,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=194976","url_meta":{"origin":197292,"position":0},"title":"Scientists found that a sea anemone can distinguish helpful bacteria from harmful bacteria without antibodies or immune memory cells","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"July 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. In the enlarged section, the nematosomes\u2014which are key to the immune system of these invertebrates\u2014are highlighted. (Credit: HHU\/Nida Kaya) A simple sea anemone (a small plant with white, red, blue or purple flowers that are shaped like cups and have dark centres) can distinguish helpful\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;National News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784569849_photo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784569849_photo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784569849_photo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784569849_photo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784569849_photo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":197167,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=197167","url_meta":{"origin":197292,"position":1},"title":"Science Snapshots: July 26, 2026","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"July 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"An artist\u2019s illustration of the system around the brown dwarf CD-35 2722 B, with the newfound moon-like object at the centre. The star (left) has about half the mass of our sun, and it is orbited by a brown dwarf (right). | Photo Credit: ESO\/M. Kornmesser First \u2018exomoon\u2019 found comes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;National News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ArtistE28099s20impression20of20CD-35202722.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ArtistE28099s20impression20of20CD-35202722.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ArtistE28099s20impression20of20CD-35202722.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ArtistE28099s20impression20of20CD-35202722.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ArtistE28099s20impression20of20CD-35202722.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":195240,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=195240","url_meta":{"origin":197292,"position":2},"title":"Scientists studying bee brains found clues to how colonies coordinate complex behaviour without a central controller, relying instead on many small individual decisions","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"July 21, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Honeybee colonies organise work without any leader assigning tasks, but scientists have now discovered that specific brain circuits help control this process. (Representational photo) Honeybee colonies work in an organised way even though no bee tells the others what to do. Young bees look after the queen and baby bees,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;National News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784654810_photo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784654810_photo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784654810_photo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784654810_photo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784654810_photo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":193591,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=193591","url_meta":{"origin":197292,"position":3},"title":"Carbapenem Resistance Genes Found in Hospital Pathogens","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"July 15, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii continue to pose a major threat to healthcare systems worldwide, with new research from Nepal highlighting the significant burden of multidrug resistance and the widespread presence of clinically important resistance genes among hospital isolates. Published in BMC Microbiology, the study characterised the phenotypic and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;National News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AdobeStock_2063229284.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AdobeStock_2063229284.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AdobeStock_2063229284.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AdobeStock_2063229284.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":196774,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=196774","url_meta":{"origin":197292,"position":4},"title":"First Human Receives Experimental Vaccine Against Rare Ebola Strain","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"July 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Oxford Launches First Human Trial Researchers at the University of Oxford have administered the first dose of an experimental vaccine designed to protect against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, marking the world\u2019s first human trial for a vaccine targeting this rare but deadly virus. The Phase I clinical trial, named\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;National News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/First-Human-Receives-Experimental-Vaccine-Against-Rare-Ebola-Strain.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/First-Human-Receives-Experimental-Vaccine-Against-Rare-Ebola-Strain.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/First-Human-Receives-Experimental-Vaccine-Against-Rare-Ebola-Strain.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/First-Human-Receives-Experimental-Vaccine-Against-Rare-Ebola-Strain.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/First-Human-Receives-Experimental-Vaccine-Against-Rare-Ebola-Strain.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":194092,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=194092","url_meta":{"origin":197292,"position":5},"title":"Gangliosides for Neuroprotection and Neurorepair","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"July 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"GANGLIOSIDES serve as vital sialylated glycosphingolipids within the central nervous system, where they maintain membrane stability and coordinate intercellular signaling. A recent review highlights their therapeutic prospects across several neurodegenerative disorders and acute traumatic injuries. Cellular Energetics and Metabolic Coupling Recent research shows that the monosialoganglioside GM1 directly reinforces astrocyte-neuron\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;National News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AdobeStock_104436208.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AdobeStock_104436208.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AdobeStock_104436208.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AdobeStock_104436208.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgnRh4-Pk8","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=197292"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197292\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/197293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=197292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=197292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=197292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}