Ethics of Genetic Therapies

Some Key Questions

Key ethical questions include how to assess the acceptability of somatic versus germline gene editing, and how these interventions may reshape societal understandings of health, disability, and responsibility. How do patients, clinicians, researchers, and the public evaluate the risks, benefits, and moral boundaries of genetic correction? What ethical frameworks are appropriate for guiding decisions about clinical trials, prioritisation of therapeutic targets, and equitable access?

Our research explores stakeholder perspectives on gene editing in Switzerland and beyond. We examine how values, expectations, and concerns differ across contexts, and how public engagement and patient involvement can inform responsible innovation. Special attention is given to the ethical governance of prenatal, somatic, and potential germline applications, particularly in the face of rapidly evolving technologies and uneven global regulatory landscapes.