Shanghai girl's death in experimental gene‑editing trial sparks international investigation

In March 2025, a six‑year‑old Chinese girl, given the pseudonym “Mei,” received an experimental base‑editing gene‑therapy at Shanghai's Xinhua Hospital to correct a CHD3 mutation causing Snijders‑Blok‑Campeau syndrome. The parents paid about US$860,000 for the treatment. Seven days after the spinal‑fluid infusion of virus‑carrying editors, the child developed a severe immune reaction and died; hospital records later classified the death as “definitely related” to the infusion.

An investigation by Science and Retraction Watch revealed that Chinese scientists, led by neuro‑scientist Zilong Qiu of Shanghai Jiao‑Tong University, and health authorities deliberately concealed the fatal outcome. The trial was not updated on ClinicalTrials.gov, and a subsequent Nature paper on related animal work omitted any mention of the patient’s death. Shanghai Jiao‑Tong University School of Medicine has now formed a special working group to examine the case, while the hospital received an administrative sanction but no disciplinary action against the research team.

The case has ignited global bio‑ethics concerns, prompting calls for correction or retraction of the Nature article and stricter oversight of “n‑of‑1” human gene‑editing trials.