Scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine have used the CRISPR-Cas9 tool to repair the gene responsible for sickle cell anaemia, thereby creating a potential avenue to cure the disease, which affects almost 5 million people worldwide.
Dr. Matthew Porteus, the main author of the study published in the Nature Journal, is ready to start the first human clinical trial using the CRISPR-Cas9 tool.
Sickle cell anaemia is a genetic disease affecting haemoglobin – a substance contained in red blood cells – which transports oxygen through the body.
Reuters (Julie Steenhuysen) 07/11/2016