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Risks, Benefits and Ethical, Legal, and Societal Considerations for Translation of Prenatal Gene Therapy to Human Application

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Prenatal Gene Therapy

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 891))

Abstract

The still experimental nature of prenatal gene therapy carries a certain degree of risk, both for the pregnant mother as well as for the fetus. Some of the risks are procedural hazards already known from more conventional fetal medicine interventions. Others are more specific to gene therapy such as the potential for interference with normal fetal development, the possibility of inadvertent germ line gene transfer, and the danger of oncogenesis. This chapter reviews the potential risks in relation to the expected benefits of prenatal gene therapy. It discusses the scientific, ethical, legal, and social implications of this novel preventive approach to genetic disease and outlines preconditions to be met in preparation for a potential future clinical application.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Alan Flake, Anna David, and Donald Peebles for valuable commments and suggestions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Heart and Lung Institute, Molecular and Cellular Medicine Section, Imperial College London, London, UK

    Charles Coutelle MD, DSc

  2. School of Law, Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK

    Richard Ashcroft PhD

Authors
  1. Charles Coutelle MD, DSc
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  2. Richard Ashcroft PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Charles Coutelle MD, DSc .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Heart & Lung Inst., Molecular & Cellular Medicine Sec., Imperial College London, Imperial College Road, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom

    Charles Coutelle

  2. Reader in Gene Transfer Technology, Gene Transfer Technology Group, University College London, Chenies Mews 86-96, London, WC1E 6HX, United Kingdom

    Simon N. Waddington

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Coutelle, C., Ashcroft, R. (2012). Risks, Benefits and Ethical, Legal, and Societal Considerations for Translation of Prenatal Gene Therapy to Human Application. In: Coutelle, C., Waddington, S. (eds) Prenatal Gene Therapy. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 891. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-873-3_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-873-3_17

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-872-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-873-3

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