Gallaudet University President Roberta J. Cordano shared the following message with the campus community on November 10, announcing the University’s Position Statement on Gene Editing, Gene Therapy, and Human Diversity. The statement affirms the essential value of Deaf lives and calls for Deaf leadership in decisions about emerging genetic technologies and their implications for the future of human diversity.
A message from President Roberta J. Cordano
Dear Gallaudet community,
We are entering a new era of scientific discovery, one in which emerging technologies may make it possible to change genetic traits that have long been part of human diversity, including those associated with being Deaf.
These advances bring significant possibilities. They also raise profound questions about identity, autonomy, human dignity, and the future of our communities.
At the heart of these questions is one that Gallaudet believes must be asked: Who gets to decide?
Today, Gallaudet University is releasing its Position Statement on Gene Editing, Gene Therapy, and Human Diversity, developed by our newly established Gene Editing Think Tank.
The Think Tank brings together Gallaudet’s leading Deaf scholars and experts from across the University whose work spans genetics, biology, philosophy, history, eugenics, research, policy, and communications. Their collective expertise reflects the depth of Gallaudet’s academic scholarship and our unique role as a global center of Deaf-led research, discovery, and innovation. Through this interdisciplinary initiative, Gallaudet is contributing not only to conversations about the future of Deaf people but also to broader questions about science, ethics, and the value of human diversity.
Our position is grounded in two fundamental beliefs:
- Deaf lives are an essential and irreplaceable part of human diversity, and
- Deaf people must help shape and lead decisions that affect their future.
Gallaudet supports scientific advancement or the potential medical benefits of gene therapy. We recognize that individuals and families will have different perspectives and make different choices. We believe those choices must be informed, respected, and shaped through conversations in which Deaf people are not simply included, but are leaders.
Why does this matter now? As Dr. Derek Braun, ’95, Gallaudet Professor of Biology and a Molecular Geneticist, explains in his accompanying video, science is advancing faster than many anticipated. Earlier this year, the first gene therapy for a hereditary form of deafness received FDA approval. In August, the first child was treated in a clinical trial targeting GJB2, also known as Connexin 26, the most common genetic cause of hereditary deafness in North America and Europe.
What once seemed years away is now entering human clinical trials. The implications for Deaf people, families, and future generations are significant. We invite you to watch the videos that explain our position and the scientific developments shaping this conversation on our gene editing initiative webpage.
Our work does not end with this statement. Gallaudet is committed to advancing research and education, convening national and global conversations, and ensuring that Deaf perspectives and leadership help shape the future of these technologies and the decisions that involve funding and research. We also plan to launch a nationwide survey to better understand perspectives on gene editing, gene therapy, and Deaf lives.
Since our founding, Gallaudet has demonstrated what becomes possible when Deaf people have the opportunity to learn, lead, innovate, and contribute fully to society. Today, we are bringing that same conviction to one of the most consequential scientific and ethical conversations of our time.
The question is not simply what science can change. It is what we value, what kind of future we want to create, and who gets to decide.
We invite every member of our community to learn more, engage in this conversation, and ensure that the future is shaped with Deaf people, not for them.
With appreciation,
Roberta J. Cordano
President
