Mapping ERC frontier research : CRISPR/CAS technology : a revolution in gene editing

The European Research Council (ERC) is the Europe's leading funding body dedicated to funding frontier research, selecting projects based on scientific excellence only, without any predetermined scientific or policy priorities. This report describes how ERC-funded, curiosity-driven research contributes to the advance of knowledge with the use or development of CRISPR/Cas gene editing technology. The development and application of CRISPR/Cas technology has likely been one of the most important advances in the life sciences of the past 15 years reflected by the Nobel prize in Chemistry being awarded in 2020 to Charpentier and Doudna "for the development of a method for genome editing". The simplicity, speed, and low cost of generating genetically modified organisms using the CRISPR/Cas technology has no competitor in today's genetic research. The CRISPR/Cas technology offers tremendous potential across various fields, transforming medicine with cures for genetic disorders, advancing the development of improved crops, or redefining traditional approaches in microbial biotechnology. This technology has great significance for current policy reflections on the deployment of new genomic techniques (NGTs) in the EU and as a means to boost the biotechnology and biomanufacturing sectors. Alongside this promise, however, there are also ethical, legal, and safety concerns, including the risks of unintended genetic mutations or human germline editing. These concerns are addressed by the Horizon Europe comprehensive ethical and regulatory framework, which applies to all ERC-funded research. This document provides an overview of the ERC-funded research on gene editing, particularly projects that utilise CRISPR/Cas technology or contribute to its improvement and deeper understanding. It is part of the series of Mapping ERC frontier research reports, on a topic of growing significance from both a scientific and regulatory perspective.