He Jiankui, the 41-year-old biophysicist who famously declared the birth of the world's first gene-edited babies in 2018, is facing a precarious future. Described as tired and worn, the self-proclaimed "pioneer of gene editing" finds himself without a permanent home or an institutional affiliation to host his research in China. This situation has led him to contemplate his next steps while residing in a Beijing hotel.

He Jiankui had ambitious plans to relocate to the United States, specifically Austin, Texas, to establish a new laboratory. His intention was to resume his controversial research, focusing on gene-editing human embryos to combat severe diseases such as Alzheimer’s and cancer. He stated that his new lab in Austin was in preparation, and he looked forward to settling there to continue his pioneering work.

However, these plans are currently in disarray due to significant personal and legal obstacles. He Jiankui’s wife is reportedly barred from entering China, and more critically, He himself is prohibited from leaving the country. Despite these formidable challenges, the scientist remains steadfast and unbowed, expressing a strong determination to persist with the groundbreaking research he initiated, highlighting the ethical and scientific complexities inherent in gene-editing tools like CRISPR/Cas9.