Ethical Considerations for Gene Drive: Challenges of Balancing Inclusion, Power and Perspectives

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

Bioengineering and Biotechnology

Anthony A. James¹  Vanilson Santos²  Adionilde Aguiar dos Santos³  Ethan Bier⁴  Lodney Nazaré⁵  Ana Kormos⁶  Gregory C. Lanzaro⁶  João Pinto⁷ 

[1] Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, CA, Irvine, United States;Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, Irvine, United States;Ministry of Defense, São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe;Ministry of Health, Delegacia de Saúde Distrital de Água Grande, São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe;Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States;United Nations Development Program, São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe;Vector Genetics Laboratory, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States;Vector Genetics Laboratory, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States;Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal;

关键词: gene drive;    ethics;    engagement;    co-development;    responsible research;    research guidelines;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fbioe.2022.826727

 received in 2021-12-01, accepted in 2022-01-05,  发布年份 2022

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Progress in gene-drive research has stimulated discussion and debate on ethical issues including community engagement and consent, policy and governance, and decision-making involved in development and deployment. Many organizations, academic institutions, foundations, and individual professionals have contributed to ensuring that these issues are considered prior to the application of gene-drive technology. Central topics include co-development of the technology with local stakeholders and communities and reducing asymmetry between developers and end-users. Important questions include with whom to conduct engagement and how to define community acceptance, develop capacity-building activities, and regulate this technology. Experts, academics, and funders have suggested that global frameworks, standards, and guidelines be developed to direct research in answering these important questions. Additionally, it has been suggested that ethical principles or commitments be established to further guide research practices. The challenging and interesting contradiction that we explore here is that the vast majority of these conversations transpire with little or no input from potential end-users or stakeholders who, we contend, should ultimately determine the fate of the technology in their communities. The question arises, whose concerns regarding marginalization, disempowerment, and inequity should be included in discussions and decisions concerning how inequities are perceived and how they may be addressed? At what stage will true co-development occur and how will opinions, perspectives and knowledge held by low-income country stakeholders be applied in determining answers to the questions regarding the ethics being debated on the academic stage? Our opinion is that the time is now.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2022 Kormos, Lanzaro, Bier, Santos, Nazaré, Pinto, Aguiar dos Santos and James.