Human Gene Editing in the Post-Genomic Era: Therapy versus Enhancement
Discover how CRISPR gene editing can cure inherited diseases while raising urgent ethical and legal questions.
Date: 19 March 2026
Time: 12:30PM – 1:15PM (including Q&A)
Format: Zoom (link will be sent upon registration)
For any enquiries, please contact the Law, Health and Society Deputy Director, Dr Olga Pandos (o.pandos@deakin.edu.au).
Abstract:
For the first time in human history, we possess the tools to precisely alter our genetic blueprint. Indeed, CRISPR gene editing has now entered the clinic, offering cures for devastating inherited diseases. However, the same technology that can correct a lethal human disease could potentially be used to engineer traits that some may view to be desirable, such as intelligence or looks. In this seminar, I will examine the scientific realities of human gene editing and consider some of the legal and ethical issues that society must confront as we move into the post-genomic era.
Presenter Bio:
Professor Paul Thomas completed his Ph.D. at the University of Adelaide in 1994. He completed a 3-year post-doctoral position with Dr. Rosa Beddington (NIMR, London) and in 1998 returned to Australia with the support of an NHMRC Florey Fellowship to establish an independent research group at the Murdoch Institute (now the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute) in Melbourne. In 2006, he moved to the University of Adelaide and in 2008 was awarded a prestigious Pfizer Australia Research Fellowship. In 2014, he was promoted to full Professor and established the SA Genome Editing (SAGE) facility. In 2017, he relocated to the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.
Professor Thomas leads the Genome Editing Program and SA Genome Editing Facility at the University of Adelaide and South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. His research focusses on the development of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology for a range of applications including genetic therapies for eye and muscle disease, generation and analysis of mouse models for neurodevelopmental disorders and synthetic gene drives for invasive pest suppression. He has published ~150 scientific articles and has ~13,500 citations.