Origin Genomics Founder Calls for Clinical Path to Gene-Edited Embryos

Cathy Tie, founder of Origin Genomics, is advocating for the clinical use of gene-edited human embryos to address hereditary diseases, as first reported by Wired. In a commentary published in the journal *Trends in Genetics*, Tie argues that advancing this technology is a "moral imperative" and calls for new regulatory pathways and public funding.

Origin Genomics, which launched in March, is currently using donated human embryos to optimize base- and prime-editing tools, though Tie notes the company is currently testing in human embryonic stem cell lines. Tie points to June research from Columbia University as evidence that precise editing is achievable. She argues that when medicine can prevent disease, the decision should rest with the patient's reproductive choice.

However, the path to clinical application remains fraught with technical and safety concerns. Reporting from *Wired* highlights the risk of "off-target effects," where accidental DNA edits could introduce new health risks passed to future generations. While Columbia University researchers demonstrated precise editing, they also found that some tools caused inconsistent genomic changes. In a paper published this month, those researchers concluded the technology is not ready for clinical use due to "undesirable consequences."

Critics, including Stanford University law professor Hank Greely, note that current IVF combined with genetic screening already allows parents to identify disease-free embryos, suggesting embryo editing would only benefit a small fraction of people. Furthermore, Dieter Egli, who led the Columbia study, noted that because of variability, every specific mutation would essentially require a new medicine.

Tie's push comes after her previous venture, Manhattan Genomics, shuttered earlier this year after only a few months of operation.