Shanghai Jiao Tong University says it is investigating after a report alleges the child died after receiving treatment from Qiu Zilong
2-MIN READ2-MIN1Carol Yangin BeijingPublished: 9:30pm, 26 Jul 2026A leading Chinese scientist is under investigation by his university after a six-year-old girl reportedly died following experimental gene-editing therapy.
The girl, named Mei, died days after receiving a treatment designed to correct a genetic mutation affecting her neurodevelopment in March last year, according to a report published by Science following a joint investigation with Retraction Watch, a non-profit organisation that monitors retracted research.
Her parents said she had suffered a fatal immune reaction linked to the treatment.
“Seven days after the girl’s medical team infused trillions of viruses carrying the recipe for the base editor into her spinal fluid, she died of a severe immune reaction linked to the therapy,” Science and Retraction Watch said.
Xinhua Hospital, which is affiliated to the university, paid a small fine worth around 24,000 yuan (US$3,500) to local health authorities last September, but Qiu faced no public sanctions at the time.
