Economic Observer reporter Zhang Ling

On July 26th, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine announced a comprehensive investigation into the death of a 6-year-old girl after undergoing gene editing experiments, as reported by Science.

The Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine stated on its official website that it attaches great importance to recent reports on medical research papers published by our researcher Qiu and a clinical study conducted by the affiliated Xinhua Hospital. A special working group has been established to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine also mentioned that it has always attached great importance to scientific research integrity and standards, and firmly opposes medical scientific research that violates research ethics and regulations. It will be dealt with seriously based on the investigation results.

Previously, according to a report by Science on July 23, 2025, a 6-year-old girl with Snijders Blok Campeau syndrome received personalized gene editing therapy for CHD3 gene mutations at Xinhua Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. This clinical study initiated by researchers was participated by the Qiu Zilong team from Songjiang Research Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. The girl developed symptoms such as fever and kidney damage after receiving treatment, and died within one week after treatment. The internal evaluation of Xinhua Hospital believes that the death of the girl is related to the gene editing treatment, and the cause of death is thrombotic microvascular disease. But the death event has not been publicly disclosed before, nor has it been reflected in the relevant clinical trial registration information.

(Author Zhang Ling)