In the second session of GEN’s ‘The State of CRISPR & Genome Editing’ virtual summit, held on June 11, 2025, Johnny Mahlangu, MMed, Director at Haemophilia Comprehensive Care Centre at University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, and Julie Makani, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania, joined GEN editors to delve into the state of gene therapy and its accessibility in Africa.
The discussion emphasized the crucial need to not only advance the tools and delivery systems for CRISPR but also to enhance affordability and accessibility of these groundbreaking therapies. Without inclusive clinical trials, direct funding for researchers, and accelerated in vivo approaches, the potential of gene therapy advancements will remain out of reach for many patients in Africa, particularly those from impoverished and rural communities. This session brought together experts in blood-based disorder treatments to share their latest research and provide insights on the current progress and challenges in the widespread adoption of new cell and gene therapies to benefit patient populations in Africa.
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