Lab News

CRISPR technologies have transformed biomedical research, opening new possibilities for understanding, diagnosing, and treating cancer. But how close are we to translating these advances into clinical practice?

 In a new Review published in Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, Postdoc Carolyn Shembrey together with Samuel Grigg and Joshua Casan (University of Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia) explore the rapidly expanding applications of CRISPR technologies in oncology and discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with their clinical translation.

CRISPR-based functional genomics screens are uncovering cancer-specific dependencies, mechanisms of drug resistance, and synthetic lethal interactions, opening new opportunities for targeted therapies. Beyond target discovery, CRISPR-based diagnostic approaches offer promising strategies for rapid and precise detection of cancer-associated mutations, with potential applications in liquid biopsies and disease monitoring.

The Review also discusses the growing clinical potential of CRISPR-based therapeutics, particularly through the engineering of immune cells to improve their ability to recognize and eliminate cancer. Other emerging strategies aim to directly target cancer-associated genetic alterations, potentially expanding treatment options beyond conventional approaches.

Despite these advances, important challenges remain. Ensuring editing safety, achieving efficient delivery, and navigating regulatory requirements will be essential for translating CRISPR technologies into broadly accessible cancer diagnostics and treatments.

Congratulations to all co-authors on this comprehensive Review!

Read the Review in  Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology.

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The genome-editing toolbox is rapidly expanding, offering increasingly diverse ways to make precise changes to DNA. But with so many emerging technologies, how do we choose the right tool for a particular application—and where does homology-directed repair (HDR) fit within this changing landscape?

In a new Comment published in Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, Postdoc Eric Aird and Jacob discuss the current and future role of Cas-induced HDR alongside emerging genome-editing technologies.

New technologies are increasingly specialized for different types and sizes of genetic modification. Base, prime and DNA polymerase editors are particularly well suited to small sequence changes, while emerging approaches such as prime assembly, CASTs, large serine recombinases and bridge recombinases are opening possibilities for much larger modifications. HDR, however, occupies a particularly broad space in this toolbox, enabling precise modifications ranging from individual base pairs to kilobase-scale sequences.

No single editing technology is likely to be optimal for every application. Choosing an approach requires balancing not only the desired modification and its size, but also precision and outcome purity, cell type, design complexity, delivery, time, cost and ease of use. As newer technologies continue to mature, HDR therefore remains an important and versatile option rather than simply being replaced by the latest generation of editors.

The Comment provides a perspective on how these complementary technologies may shape the future of precise genome editing and emphasizes an increasingly important question for the field: not simply whether we can make a particular edit, but which tool is best suited to make it.

Check out the Comment in Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology!

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The Corn lab came together for this year’s retreat in Leysin, Vaud, on September 24–25. Over two engaging days, we combined science, reflection, and team building through speed talks, a state-of-the-lab discussion, and interactive sessions on AI in biology and bioinformatics, cell perturbation approaches, and shared “lab wisdom.” Alongside the scientific program, lab members had plenty of opportunities to exchange ideas, connect, and have some fun—including a lab edition of “Two Truths and a Lie.” We wrapped up the retreat with a hike through the beautiful surroundings of the Vaud Alps before heading back to Zurich.

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How does a cell find the right DNA template to accurately repair a DNA double-strand break?

When DNA breaks, cells can repair the damage through homologous recombination, a process that relies on RAD51 to search the genome for a matching DNA sequence from which missing genetic information can be copied. Despite its central role in maintaining genome stability, how RAD51 carries out this search within the complex three-dimensional environment of the human genome has remained difficult to study.

In our new work published in Cell Reports, Charles Yeh developed RAD51 proximity identification sequencing (RaPID-seq), a new approach that captures transient interactions made by RAD51 during the homology search. Together with colleagues, Charles used RaPID-seq to map where RAD51 searches for matching sequences following a DNA double-strand break in human cells.

The study reveals that homology search in humans is strongly constrained by spatial proximity: DNA regions that are physically close to the break are almost exclusively explored, highlighting an important role for the three-dimensional organization of chromatin in DNA repair. In contrast, homology search in yeast eventually expands globally to encompass the whole genome. This difference highlights a potential mechanism preventing erroneous recombination in humans between highly homologous, but spatially separated genes. We also found that externally introduced DNA repair templates, such as used in genome editing, can overcome these spatial constraints to efficiently participate in the repair process. Notably, these external DNA repair templates even interfere with native search and repair processes.

These findings provide a new view of how cells navigate the genome to accurately repair damaged DNA. Beyond improving our understanding of genome maintenance, the work may also help inform strategies to make homology-directed genome editing more efficient, predictable, and safe.

Congratulations to Charles and all collaborators on this exciting work!

For more info, read the paper in Cell Reports.

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On August 23, the Corn Lab opened its doors as part of Scientifica 2026, inviting young visitors aged 12–16 to explore how scientists study genes and cells and how this knowledge can contribute to new treatments for genetic diseases.

During the interactive laboratory tour, “Exploring genes and cells to cure genetic disease,” participants got a behind-the-scenes look at genome biology research. They explored fluorescent bacterial cultures, DNA separation by gel electrophoresis, microscopy images of neurons and blood stem cells, and saw a laboratory robot in action. Along the way, our researchers explained how these tools and technologies help us investigate gene function and develop new approaches to genome editing.

It was a pleasure to share our science with the next generation of curious researchers and to answer their many questions about genes, cells, and genetic disease! A huge thank you to Marwa, Kinga and Ana for organizing this event!

Learn more about Scientifica.

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Cian received his PhD in Brain and Cognitive Sciences from MIT in January 2026. In July 2026, he joined the Corn lab as a postdoctoral researcher. His research interests broadly include DNA and RNA tool development and the biology behind editing outcomes.

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Genome editing therapies often rely on viral delivery systems such as adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), which have limited cargo capacity. Although RNA-guided nucleases from the Cas12f and TnpB families are attractive alternatives to larger enzymes such as spCas9, their relatively low editing activity in mammalian cells has restricted their broader application till now.

Do you need a super-active CRISPR nuclease for in vivo genome editing? Meet our two new compact editors with SpyCas9-like activity that are small enough for delivery in AAVs.

This exciting work was co-led by Fedor Gorbenko during his PhD and research assistant Iréne Sala, in collaboration with the Schwank lab (UZH) and the Siksnys lab (Vilnius University).

In this study, we developed a directed evolution platform using in a fluorescent reporter system in human cells to engineer compact genome editors with increased HDR efficiency. Through iterative rounds of mutagenesis and screening, we generated Cas12f1Super and TnpBSuper, two enhanced nucleases with up to an 11-fold increase in editing efficiency while maintaining high specificity. Moreover, the resulting variants also exhibit increased NHEJ activity. We further demonstrated efficient in vivo editing of the clinically relevant PCSK9 gene in mice following AAV delivery, with editing efficiencies of up to 61%. These results underscore the potential of Cas12f1Super and TnpBSuper for future therapeutic genome editing applications. When tested as a base-editor, the improved Cas12f1Super variant also substantially boosted the performance, achieving up to a tenfold increase in editing activity compared with the previously developed CasMINI.

By combining compact size with high activity, our Super genome editors broaden the genome engineering toolbox and open new opportunities for both basic research and therapeutic applications.

Congratulations to Fedor, Irene and all collaborators on this exciting achievement!

For more info, check out our new paper in Genome Biology!

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A highlight of the summer scientific calendar, the SwissPR Symposium on Genome and Transcriptome Engineering, took place on June 30, 2026, in Basel. Co-organized by the Corn, Platt, Schwank, Jinek, and Beisel groups, this one-day symposium brought together leading voices from academia and industry to share the latest breakthroughs and real-world applications at the cutting edge of the field.

Congratulations to Charles Yeh, our PostDoc, on a fantastic talk!

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From June 8–10, 2026, members of the Corn Lab attended the 14th D-BIOL Symposium in Davos. This biennial ETH Zurich event brought together nearly 500 students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty members to share the latest scientific discoveries and foster new collaborations across the Department of Biology. Congratulations to Danielle Gallagher  and Martina Cernakova for representing the lab with outstanding flash talks!

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