Science, Ethics & Governance of Human Genome Editing

Virtual sessions (via Zoom) will take place between 12th June – 11th July 2025, usually late afternoon/early evening. There will also be some self-paced learning via online links for video and articles. Approx. 15 hours — mix of online classes/guest lectures & additional learning support. The virtual sessions will cover a range of topics, including the history of genome editing, scientific milestones, results and future prospects, as well as introductions to the ethical, legal, and regulatory challenges raised by human genome editing. The sessions will also allow engagement with various stakeholders, including patient groups and other important voices from the community. Explore the exciting implications of human genome editing and related technologies, including their scientific and medical possibilities, governance and ethical problems.

Application Deadline

Virtual Part starting date 2025-06-12

Virtual Part closing date 2025-07-11

Total student workload 125

Specific field of studies No

Pre-requisite for selection CV Motivation Letter Level of English (According to CEFR)

Academic pre-requisites for applicants > An overriding interest in the ethics and governance of human genome editing > Academic (or other) background, knowledge and/or experience of human genome editing (e.g. science, philosophy, ethics, medicine, law, etc) AND an interest in interdisciplinary learning. > Good academic past performance. > Good critical thinking skills. > An openness and generosity to different perspectives and to the ideas of others. > Good level of English (minimum B2).

Physical Part starting date 2025-07-17

Physical Part Description The dates for the physical week are from Thursday 17th July – Monday 21st July 2025. (9am-6pm) with activities in town on Sunday, welcome drinks on the first day, and farewell dinner on the last evening. The Programme will be delivered through a mix of lectures and deliberative workshops over the course of several days, each with their own focus: scientific advances, ethics, governance and regulation, as well as social issues. This will result in a strong understanding of the wide range of interrelated considerations in human genome editing and related technologies. Throughout, active class engagement will be ensured through interactive lectures, the use of multimedia teaching methods, and group discussions – including a ‘movie with snacks evening’ on the topic of human genome editing. Participants will also get to experience Tübingen with social and field educational activities, such as the castle museum visit, including to the castle laboratory where, in 1869, Friedrich Miescher made the groundbreaking discovery of a substance which he named “nuclein” — today known as DNA and RNA. Other social activities include punting on the beautiful Neckar river. A tour of Tübingen's Old Town will focus on learning the city's history in medicine. The event will end with a dinner in a traditional Tübingen restaurant. In addition, there will be a one-day symposium that allows participants to present new ideas and perspectives, including (but not only) those arising from the Programme. The format will be a series of ‘10-minute pitches’ (plus Q&A) in a friendly symposium atmosphere, leading to the generation of new, innovative ideas with a view to preparing a co-authored paper (or collection of papers in a special issue proposal) in which students get the chance to be published.

Physical Part closing date 2025-07-21

Language level required B2

Field of studies related to the course Medicine and Health Social Science and Humanities Law

Course location Tübingen, Germany

Course language English