Adapted from Channel NewsAsia (CNA), Oct 31, 2025 – by Rachel Teng
Within the next decade, gene therapy could transform modern medicine in Singapore, offering new hope to patients with hereditary diseases. Local researchers are already testing CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing — one of the most groundbreaking biotechnologies of our time — on adults with heart conditions.
If successful, it could pave the way for Singapore’s first approved gene editing treatment, potentially becoming mainstream by the 2030s, according to Assistant Professor Lin Weiqin, clinical director of the National University Heart Centre Singapore’s Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Programme.
Dr Lin described the ongoing study as “groundbreaking and exciting,” noting that its success could open new therapeutic possibilities for more common conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
How CRISPR-Cas9 Works: Editing the Code of Life
CRISPR-Cas9 acts as a molecular scissor that allows scientists to identify, cut, and replace faulty segments of DNA.
- A guide RNA directs the Cas9 enzyme to the specific genetic sequence.
- Cas9 then snips the DNA at that site.
- Scientists insert a template DNA sequence to repair or replace the defective gene.
This process enables the correction of mutations at their source, offering the potential to cure diseases rather than just manage symptoms.
However, long-term safety remains uncertain, as DNA editing could have unpredictable side effects that emerge years later.
Beyond Birth: The Next Frontier — Treating Diseases in the Womb
Researchers at the National University Hospital (NUH) are exploring in-utero gene therapy, which aims to correct genetic abnormalities before a child is even born.
Associate Professor Citra Mattar, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at NUH, explained that treating a foetus could lead to better outcomes:
“When the recipient is well, the therapeutic results are better compared to when the disease has already caused extensive damage.”
However, she cautioned that such procedures carry risks for both mother and child, including immune reactions and unintended genetic changes.
The Ethics of Editing Humanity
As scientific capability accelerates, ethical debates intensify. Singapore’s Bioethics Advisory Committee (BAC) recently issued updated guidelines for genetic research:
- Embryos used for research must not develop beyond 14 days, to prevent human-like structural formation.
- Heritable gene edits — changes that could be passed on to future generations — are discouraged until more is known about their safety.
Assistant Professor G. Owen Schaefer from NUS’ Centre for Biomedical Ethics stressed the gravity of such interventions:
“If something goes wrong, it doesn’t just affect one individual. It could affect their descendants for generations.”
He urged researchers to rely on proven preventive methods for inherited conditions until gene editing becomes more precise and predictable.
The Road Ahead
While gene therapy’s promise is immense, it remains at a crossroads between hope and caution. Singapore’s researchers are leading the charge responsibly — balancing scientific ambition with ethical restraint.
If early trials succeed, CRISPR-based medicine could one day eliminate diseases at their genetic roots — but society must first decide how far it is willing to go in rewriting life itself.
Source: Channel NewsAsia (CNA) – “Gene therapy could become mainstream in Singapore by 2030s, but ethical concerns remain” by Rachel Teng, Oct 31, 2025.
