¹Gene Therapy Research Group, Division of Biomedical Sciences, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, London, UK

²Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK

Correspondence to: C Coutelle, Division of Biomedical Sciences, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, London, SW7 2AZ, UK

Fetal somatic gene therapy is often seen as an ethically particularly controversial field of gene therapy. This review outlines the hypothesis and scientific background of in utero gene therapy and addresses some of the frequently raised questions and concerns in relation to this still experimental, potentially preventive gene therapy approach. We discuss here the choice of vectors, of animal models and routes of administration to the fetus. We address the relation of fetal gene therapy to abortion, to post-implantation selection and postnatal gene therapy and the concerns of inadvertent germ-line modification. Our views on the specific risks of prenatal gene therapy and on the particular prerequisites that have to be met before human application can be considered are presented.

Gene Therapy 2002 9, 670-673. DOI: 10.1038/sj/gt/3301761

fetal/in utero gene therapy; ethics