IBS Center to host session on CRISPR Genome Editing in upcoming WCSJ

The Center for Genome Editing will produce a session discussing key features and developments of CRISPR, featuring three keynote speakers

June 00, 2015

Jin-Soo Kim, director of the Center for Genome Editing at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) will host a session titled “CRISPR Genome Editing in Medicine and Biotechnology” at the upcoming World Conference for Science Journalist (WCSJ) to be held in Seoul, South Korea at Coex from June 8 to 12.

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat) genome editing technology has been successfully used to create genetically modified plants and animals including non-human primates. The technology could help to battle incurable diseases like cancer and AIDs. It works by targeting genetic modifications in cells and whole organisms using programmable nucleases that target and sever infected DNA in a sequence-specific manner.

CRISPR-Cas9 is an offset of CRISPR and could be used a tool used to manipulate the DNA of plants, livestock and even humans. As this technology could potentially be revolutionary for mankind, it is not without controversy. Professor Xingxu Huang of Shanghai Tech University, who is one of the speakers in the session, is currently seeking permission from his institution’s ethics committee to try to genetically modify discarded human embryos. He previously modified embryos that developed into live monkeys. The Chinese scientist recently told Nature that the technique “gives lots of potential for its application in humans.”

Conversely Professor Tetsuya Ishii, from Hokkaido University, has led various policy discussions on the regulations of genetically modified organisms (GMO) and human germline editing. Professor Ishii is an expert on science policy and is currently studying bioethics, focusing particularly on the relationship between society and biotechnology

These two prominent experts will discuss progress and share their insights into the future direction of CRISPR technology. The session will take place on June 9 at 2 PM as one of the parallel sessions and will last for approximately 90 minutes. Each keynote will end with a Q&A, enabling participants to take the discussion further.

Notes for editors

-         Director Jin-soo Kim

Director Kim is the co-founder of ToolGen Inc., a Korean biotechnology company established in 1999. He published the paper on CRISPR-Cas9 in Nature Biotechnology in 2013, drawing the attention of international science community.

On March 2014, he established the Center for Genome Editing at IBS, a key research institute in the International Science and Business Belt (ISBB) in South Korea.

-         World Conference for Science Journalists

The World Conference of Science Journalists (WCSJ) is one of the biggest global events in science journalism, and is a gathering of approximately 1200 journalists covering science and medical issues, as well as international experts.

WCSJ, which is marking its 9th conference in 2015, consists of a wide variety of programs that aim to expand the horizons of participants from different backgrounds through lively discussions. The conference will take place in COEX, Seoul, South Korea and run from June 8to 12.

-         For further information or to request media assistance, please contact: Mr. Shi Bo Shim, Head of Department of Communications, Institute for Basic Science (+82-42-878-8189; sibo@ibs.re.kr) or Ms. Sunny Kim, Department of Communications, Institute for Basic Science (+82-42-878-8135; Sunnykim@ibs.re.kr)

-         About the Institute for Basic Science (IBS)
IBS was founded in 2011 by the government of the Republic of Korea. With the sole purpose of driving forward the development of basic science in Korea, IBS will be comprised of a total of 50 research centers in all fields of basic science, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, life science, earth science and interdisciplinary science. IBS has launched 24 research centers as of January 2015. There are one mathematics, eight physics, six chemistry, seven life science, and two interdisciplinary research centers.

Session

Session Description

Session Title:	CRISPR Genome Editing in Medicine and Biotechnology (Sponsored by the Institute for Basic Science)
Session Code:	Parallel Session 1-A
Time/Place:	Tuesday, June 9, 14:00-15:30 Room 101
Session Outline:	In near future, AIDS, cancer, hemophilia, and many other diseases can be treated by altering DNA sequences of patients. In addition, crops and livestock will be improved by modifying their genome sequences without inserting foreign DNA in their genomes. Genome editing enables targeted genetic modifications in cells and whole organisms using programmable nucleases that cleave target DNA in a sequence-specific manner. Genome editing has recently been democratized by CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases that are originated from an adaptive immune system in bacteria. CRISPR nucleases have been successfully used to create genetically-modified plants and animals including non-human primates. Researchers are now applying this method to correct genetic defects in patient-derived stem and somatic cells and to create disease-resistant crops and animals. In this session, scientists, bioethicists, and science historians will discuss on various issues associated with the CRISPR revolution.

Session Participants

Session Participants

	Producer: Jin-Soo Kim (Professor at Seoul National University; Director of Center for Genome Editing at Institute for Basic Science) Jin-Soo Kim is a professor at Seoul National University and Director of Center for Genome Editing at Institute for Basic Science. He has developed CRISPR and other programmable nucleases, now widely used for genome editing. Email: jskim01@snu.ac.kr
	Moderator: Sungook Hong (Professor, Seoul National University) Sungook Hong is a professor of Seoul National University is a historian of science and STS scholar. He has been working on social debates over technoscientific uncertainties and risks caused by neuroscience, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. Email: comenius@snu.ac.kr
	Speaker 1: Tetsuya Ishii (Professor, Office of Health and Safety, Hokkaido University) Tetsuya Ishii, PhD is a professor of Office of Health and Safety, Hokkaido University. In 2002, he joined Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and worked as a program officer. He worked at Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, in charge with clinical research application and also joined International Stem Cell Initiative. Currently, he is studying bioethics, focusing the relationship between society and biotechnology. Email: tishii@general.hokudai.ac.jp
	Speaker 2: Xingxu Huang (Professor, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University) Xingxu Huang, Ph.D. is an associate professor of School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University. He used CRISPR nucleases to modify genome sequences of non-human primates for the first time. Email: huangxx@shanghaitech.edu.cn
	Speaker 3: Doogab Yi (Professor, History and Science and Technology Studies at Seoul National University) Doogab Yi is an assistant professor of history and science and technology studies at Seoul National University, where he teaches the history of science as well as science and the law. His recent book is The Recombinant University: Genetic Engineering and the Emergence of Stanford Biotechnology (University of Chicago Press, 2015). Email: doogab@snu.ac.kr
	Speaker 4: Dayk Jang (Professor, College of Liberal Studies, Seoul National University) Dayk Jang is an associate professor of College of Liberal Studies at Seoul National University, where he teaches philosophy of biology as well as scientific understanding of human nature. He has been working on philosophical issues in evolutionary sciences and neuroscience. His recent book is Darwin’s Study (in Korean, 2014). Email: djang@snu.ac.kr