Research Bio

Fyodor Urnov is a Professor of Molecular Therapeutics in the MCB Department and Director for Therapeutic R&D at its Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI). He co-developed the toolbox of human genome and epigenome editing, co-named genome editing, and was on the team that advanced all of its first-in-human applications to the clinic. A major goal for the field of genome editing and a key focus of Fyodor's work is expanding access to CRISPR therapies for genetic disease. As part of that effort Fyodor directs the Danaher-IGI Beacon for CRISPR Cures - a first-in-class academia-industry partnership developing and advancing to the clinic CRISPR-based platform approaches to treat severe Mendelian diseases of the immune system. In May 2025 a paper in the New England Journal of Medicine described the world’s first on-demand engineered CRISPR therapy for a newborn with a severe metabolic disorder; Fyodor was the IGI lead of this 4-way collaboration between CHOP, Penn Medicine, Danaher, and the IGI that reduced key components of “CRISPR as a platform” approach to clinical practice. Fyodor also directs the newly established CZI-IGI Center for Pediatric CRISPR Cures that aims to expand the “CRISPR on-demand” approach exemplified in that effort to multiple additional pediatric patients with severe genetic diseases.

Research Expertise and Interest

CRISPR gene editing for clinical applications