Shanghai Jiao Tong University says it is investigating a case involving scientist Qiu Zilong after reports that a six-year-old girl died days after receiving an experimental gene therapy treatment.
According to the report cited, the child, identified as Mei, underwent the treatment before her death. The allegations have drawn attention because they involve an experimental medical approach and a researcher described as a leading Chinese scientist.
The university’s response centers on reviewing the circumstances surrounding the reported treatment and the child’s death. Based on the available information, the case appears to involve questions about oversight, patient safety and how experimental therapies are being handled.
The report has added to wider concern about the risks linked to gene-editing and gene therapy research when treatments are used outside well-established clinical settings. For now, the main public facts remain limited, with the university investigation expected to determine what happened and whether any rules or standards were breached.
