CRISPR treatment inserted directly into the body for first time

CRISPR treatment inserted directly into the body for first time

The human retina: a CRISPR therapy has been inserted directly into a person for the first time — in their eye. (Prof. P. Motta/Dept. of Anatomy/University La Sapienza of Rome/SPL)

CRISPR therapy inserted directly into body A person with a rare genetic condition that causes blindness has become the first to have a CRISPR–Cas9 gene therapy administered directly into their body. No treatment is currently available for the disease, which is a leading cause of blindness in childhood. The use of CRISPR–Cas9 in the body is a significant advance from treating cells in a dish. “It is akin to space flight versus a regular plane trip,” says geneticist Fyodor Urnov. Nature | 3 min read