Jae Joung

Dr. Joung is a co-founder of Editas Medicine, a new transformative genome editing company. Editas’ mission is to translate its genome editing technology into a novel class of human therapeutics that enable precise and corrective molecular modification to treat the underlying cause of a broad range of diseases at the genetic level. The company has generated substantial patent filings and has access to intellectual property covering foundational genome editing technologies, as well as essential advancements and enablements that will uniquely allow the company to translate early findings into viable human therapeutic products. Its CRISPR/Cas9 technology is “favorably differentiated” due to its ability to pursue the entire genome, allowing broad therapeutic application and the targeting of defective genes in a highly specific, selective and efficient manner. The research under this grant uses engineered TALEN proteins, and thus, the Co-Chairs determined that the interests of the company could be affected by the research. The Co-Chairs further determined that, based on the financial interest and the close connection between the company's interests and the research, the financial interest could directly and significantly affect the design, conduct, or reporting of the research.