It’s admittedly a daunting challenge to take a complex and sensitive subject like gene editing and turn it into an innovative, visually compelling video. But we drew on the scientific expertise of STAT’s multimedia team to produce an accessible and absorbing video on this tremendously important subject.
Recently approved gene therapies offer patients one-time, potentially curative treatments for genetic diseases such as sickle cell anemia and beta thalassemia. But “one-time” miracle solutions can often be multi-month affairs, require millions of dollars, and cause painful side effects. What if that doesn’t have to be the case?
In utero gene editing, or prenatal somatic cell genome editing, envisions treating a fetus diagnosed with a genetic disease before birth, thus preventing the onset of symptoms in the first place. It would also challenge the need for the ethically fraught enterprise of embryo editing, as the treatment would only make edits in the DNA of the individual fetus — edits which would not be passed on in a heritable way.
In this video, producer Anna Yeo has combined visually stunning illustrations, interviews with Tippi MacKenzie — the leading researcher in this cutting-edge field of gene therapy — and smart narration to break down this incredibly complex topic in under five minutes. Yeo’s video draws on reporting from STAT’s Megan Molteni, who profiled MacKenzie’s work in a long-form feature. The video was included within this story as well as a standalone piece.
Very relatable, humorous beginning with pop-culture references to draw in the audience. Difficult story to tell visually. Judges felt the crafty illustration style was an engaging way to explain a complex scientific topic and its impact.
