Stanford says his researchers have not helped the Chinese biologist who modifies the baby gene | Science

The Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, has exonerated "several" of its researchers who interacted with He Jiankui, the Chinese biologist, now famous for creating the first gene-modified human babies, twins born in October 2018. After an examination finding "led by an unnamed member of Stanford faculty and an external investigator, the university concludes in a statement released today that his researchers" had expressed serious concerns "about his work on human embryos intended to be implanted and did not participate in it.

Although Stanford did not name the researchers, bioethicist William Hurlbut and hematologist Matthew Porteus, both from the university, have already admitted to discussing the project with He and saying that they tried to dissuade him. He was also a postdoctoral fellow in the Stephen Quake bioengineer lab at Stanford in 2011-2012. Quake's interactions with He have had a long history The New York Times on Sunday.

The many consultations he has had with many American researchers about his gene editing projects have raised the question of whether any of them had taken enough steps to try to stop it before the implantation of embryos. The president of He Chinese University wrote to the president of Stanford claiming that Quake had helped him, according to The New York Times. Quake denied this to the newspaper and said that he had encouraged his former mentee to obtain proper ethical approval. "To the extent that it was not obvious misconduct, what does a person in my position do? Encourage him to do his research well, right? I mean, that's what I thought I was doing, "said Quake. The New York Times.