STAT+: Broad Institute, partners unveil new initiative to develop gene therapies for rare diseases

STAT PlusBiotech Broad Institute, partners unveil new initiative to develop gene therapies for rare diseases Boston Children’s Hospital, Maine’s Jackson Laboratory join collaboration Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Allyson Chiu — Boston GlobeJuly 21, 2026 The Broad Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Maine’s Jackson Laboratory announced a collaboration Tuesday to develop gene therapies for people with rare diseases and to make the life-saving therapies cheaper and more accessible to patients. With relatively few gene therapies on the market, families of children with rare genetic disorders have few options but to partner individually with researchers and raise millions of dollars to develop treatments for their conditions.Advertisement The newly formed non-profit Center for Therapeutic Genetics will create precision medicines and share those methods, data, and training with other clinicians so they can do the same. The goal is to make these personalized treatments more like clinical procedures, such as organ transplants, so doctors don’t have to seek separate regulatory approvals for each use, said Winston Yan, founding director of the new center. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus daily coverage and analysis of the biotech sector — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In biotechnology, drug development, rare diseases, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Allyson Chiu — Boston Globe Newsletter Understand how science, health policy, and medicine shape the world every day Recommended The Readout July 21, 2026 STAT Plus: Anthropic deepens work with rare disease drugs Pharma July 21, 2026 STAT Plus: Makers of rare disease drugs seek exemption from Trump’s price-cut pilots Advertisement Exclusive July 20, 2026 STAT Plus: A most-wanted fugitive appears to have been secretly working as a biotech executive The Readout July 17, 2026 STAT Plus: The end for GSK’s chronic cough treatment Biotech July 17, 2026 STAT Plus: Can ultrasound unlock the power of gene therapy? A startup makes big claims Subscriber Picks