The World Health Organisation's new advisory council are developing global standards for governance and administration of human genome editing and are working hard towards achieving a strong international governance
framework in this field.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-general in a statement, said, "Gene editing holds unbelievable promise for health, but it also poses some risks, both ethically and medically.
"This council is an absolute example of WHO's leadership by making sure some of the world's leading experts provide guidance on this complicated issue. I must appreciate each member of the Expert Advisory Council for their time and expertise."
However, for the past two days, the council of experts reconsidered the present state of science and technology. They also agreed on major principles of transparency, inclusivity and responsibility that support the council current recommendations. The council had noted that it is irresponsible at this time for anyone to proceed with clinical applications of human germline genome editing.
The council also agreed that a control registry on human genome editing research is required in order to create an open and transparent database of the work in progress.
The council has asked WHO to immediately commence working to establish such a registry.
According to Dr Soumya Swamanathan, WHO Chief Scientist, "They will develop important tools and guidance for all those working on this new technology to ensure maximum benefit and minimal risk to human health."
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