Probe Opens Into Scientist After Death in Experimental Gene-Editing Trial

An investigation has been launched into neuroscientist Zilong Qiu after a six-year-old girl died following an experimental base-editing gene therapy, funded by the family with over $800,000. Qiu allegedly did not publicly disclose the death and altered a related Nature paper to omit funding details and human-trial references. The trial, which used CRISPR-based edits delivered via trillions of viruses to Mei’s brain, is believed to have caused a fatal immune reaction; the hospital was fined a small amount for oversight. Outside experts urge Nature to review the work, and the case echoes China’s past genome-editing scandals including He Jiankui.