Sickle-cell disease is one of the most common genetic conditions worldwide, with more than 6 million people living with the disease. Three-quarters of them are in sub-Saharan Africa, where childhood mortality due to sickle cell remains high.

Previously, the only curative treatment was a stem-cell transplant, but new trials are investigating the potential of CRISPR–Cas9 gene editing as a tool to cure this chronic condition.

One such trial has already achieved exciting results. For people around the world who are living with sickle-cell, these trials could offer hope that long-term cures are just over the horizon.