Since the 1960s, breakthroughs in the accuracy and efficiency of gene altering technologies has rapidly advanced the field of human gene therapy. This potential treatment of severe genetic-based disease and disabilities could theoretically eliminate common illnesses and improve the quality of life of many individuals, previously not thought possible. However, gene therapy does not come without risk. With these innovations, now the implications are so broad they have entered the public discourse. Human gene therapy raises a broad range of personal, societal, and regulatory issues which are not easily solved. In order to answer key ethical and risk-assessment questions, representative data on public beliefs, attitudes and opinions towards human gene therapy and gene editing is required.

This doctorate investigated Australian public beliefs, attitudes and opinions towards specific techniques and outcomes of human gene therapy, prevention and enhancement. To achieve this goal, two surveys were published. The first was a national survey which used chain-sampling via major social media platforms in 2017, with 553 responses returned. The second survey was based on a mail-out of households in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in 2019, this received 170 responses.  A central finding of this study was a hesitancy in Australians’ initial trust towards all human gene-editing applications, with a strong preference towards procedures to treat a severe medical condition. This acceptability diminished with declining severity. In each case, enhancement and prevention procedures were deemed less acceptable than therapeutic applications. Demographic associations were also identified in both surveys, with females across Australia significantly less likely to find human gene therapy acceptable across all Likert questions. These results reflect previous trends observed in similar international research.

About Michel

Michel obtained her Bachelor of Science majoring in Genetics and Pathology, with honours, in 2013. Following, she was employed as research assistant at the University of Western Australia and Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. Before she started her PhD at The Australian National University, Michel worked for the Lotterywest BioDiscovery Centre which was established to educate and inspire the community of the fascinating world of medical research. Michel commenced her PhD at  in early 2017. Her interests focus on the public's opinions surrounding medical research and new medical technologies.