Houston researcher with ties to 2018 gene-editing scandal no longer working at Rice University, officials say
The Houston researcher reportedly linked to the controversial creation of the world’s first-gene edited babies in 2018 is no longer working at Rice University, officials said.
Michael Deem was a bioengineering and physics professor at Rice when, according to the Associated Press, he worked with Chinese researcher He Jiankui in altering the DNA of embryos to make babies resistant to HIV infection. The research triggered global outrage and an investigation into Deem’s involvement by Rice. Deem’s lawyers have repeatedly denied his participation.
A story published last month by Stat first reported Deem’s separation from the university. A Rice spokesman declined to offer further details about his departure or the internal investigation. Deem’s LinkedIn page shows that his tenure at Rice ended in 2020.
In a statement, Deem’s lawyer, Matt Hennessy, said Deem “did not participate in human research with He Jiankui” and has “moved on from Rice to other opportunities.”
Deem’s exact role in the project remains unclear. He previously told reporters that he was present in China when the patients gave their consent for the research. Deem also was named as an author on an academic article about it, though he later asked for his name to be removed. The Associated Press, which broke the story of the experiment in 2018, reported that Deem held a “small stake” in He’s two companies. Deem was also He’s doctoral adviser when He was a graduate student at Rice.
The experiment involved altering embryos for seven couples during fertility treatments. Twin girls were the first to be born, followed by a third child from another pregnancy, according to Nature. Much remains unknown about the children’s current health status.
Such experimentation is banned in the United States because the changes made by altering embryos can be inherited and can harm other genes. The experiment also violated government rules in China, and in 2019, He was convicted of violating medical regulations. He was released last week from prison, according to multiple reports.
Deem’s LinkedIn page lists him as founder and CEO of Certus LLC, a Houston-based energy services company.