Post Your Answer
6 years ago in Risk Analysis , Technology Ethics By Rishabh Khanna
How can risks in genetic applications be minimized ethically?
Our ethics committee consistently identifies high potential risks in proposed clinical trials for somatic gene therapies. While we can reject a proposal, we'd prefer to help researchers mitigate those risks to allow safe progress. What are the most effective, concrete strategies for minimizing ethical and physical risks before they manifest?
All Answers (1 Answers In All)
By Rinku Answered 5 years ago
In my advisory work, I stress proportional oversight: the level of scrutiny must match the risk level, with germline or heritable edits requiring the highest bar. A key strategy is enforcing phased clinical trials with strict stopping rules and long-term follow-up protocols. I would also recommend mandatory failure mode analysis in the design stage, where teams brainstorm everything that could go wrong. Finally, transparent public registries for trials minimize duplication of risk and allow for independent monitoring. The goal isn’t to stifle, but to build a safety culture where identifying risk is seen as a core part of responsible science.
ÂReply to Rinku
Related Questions