Cathy Tie, the Canadian serial entrepreneur known as 'Biotech Barbie', has announced plans to genetically modify human embryos to prevent inherited diseases, despite widespread international bans on the practice. The 30-year-old, who recently separated from her husband He Jiankui—the scientist jailed for creating the world's first gene-edited babies—claims her work will be done openly and with regulatory approval.
Tie's new venture aims to use Crispr-Cas9 gene editing to alter the DNA of embryos to prevent conditions such as cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease and hereditary cancers. Editing germline cells, such as eggs, sperm or early embryos, would result in permanent changes passed to future generations. The technique is banned for reproductive purposes in the UK, US and China, with global consensus against creating gene-edited babies.
Speaking ahead of her 30th birthday party at Carnegie Hall, Tie described gene editing as 'the most consequential technology of our generation'. She noted that public funding is unavailable for such research, leaving private entrepreneurs to demonstrate the benefits. 'There is no public funding available for researchers in the space. Everything is privately funded,' she said.
Tie has launched three biotech companies since the start of 2025 and lived in three cities. She attempted to move to Beijing but discovered she was banned from China, her country of birth. Her ex-husband He served three years in prison for illegally creating the first gene-edited babies. Tie and He separated three months after their wedding.
