Rice U. Will Investigate Professor Who Says He Worked on First Genetically Altered Babies

Daderot/Wikimedia via Creative Commons

Rice University said on Monday that it was investigating a physics and bioengineering professor who told the Associated Press that he had assisted a Chinese researcher in creating the first genetically altered babies.

The professor, Michael W. Deem, told the news service that he was in China when participants gave their consent for the experiment, which his collaborator, He Jiankui, has said resulted in the birth of twin girls. Deem was an adviser to He at Rice, and the pair worked together on the project, the Associated Press reported. He’s laboratory is at the Southern University of Science and Technology of China, in Shenzhen, but the university says He is on leave without pay, according to the AP.

Rice, a private research university in Houston, characterized the research as raising “troubling scientific, legal, and ethical questions.” A spokesman said in a written statement to The Chronicle on Monday that Rice would investigate Deem’s involvement in the project. The university had no knowledge of this work, the statement said.

“To Rice’s knowledge, none of the clinical work was performed in the U.S.,” the statement said. “Regardless of where it was conducted, this work, as described in press reports, violates scientific-conduct guidelines and is inconsistent with ethical norms of the scientific community and Rice University.”

Deem did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesman confirmed on Monday that Deem was still employed by Rice.

No independent scientist has confirmed He’s claim, and the work has not been published, the Associated Press reported, adding that some outside scientists called the claim ethically indefensible.

He Jiankui told the Associated Press that their attempts to alter embryos had been designed to give them the ability to resist possible future HIV infection. He practiced gene-editing using mouse, monkey, and human embryos, the Associated Press reported.

Deem’s research group at Rice focuses on immune responses to variable or multi-strain viruses and vaccines, among other topics. Deem told the Associated Press that he has a “small stake” in and advises He’s two genetic companies, in Shenzhen.

Lindsay Ellis is a staff reporter. Follow her on Twitter @lindsayaellis, or email her at lindsay.ellis@chronicle.com.