A research team from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and Korea University has developed next-generation doping analysis technology using gene-editing technology.
Chung Chang-min, a leading researcher at the KIST Doping Control Center, stated that he and a research team, led by Professor Park Hee-ho from the Department of Bioengineering at Korea University, developed a high-throughput multiplex gene and cell doping analysis method (HiMDA) based on CRISPR-Cas technology.
Recently, doping technology aimed at enhancing athletic performance is rapidly advancing. In particular, "gene and cell doping," which manipulates bodily functions using genes or cell therapies, poses a serious threat to fairness in sports. Gene-based drugs such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) and erythropoietin (EPO), which can maximize strength and endurance, are highly likely to be misused by athletes in certain sports to enhance performance.
Current doping analysis methods at the protein level struggle to clearly distinguish between exogenous gene materials that are structurally identical to endogenous proteins. There is a significant need for a new analytical platform capable of distinguishing exogenous genes at the DNA level.
The analysis method developed by the research team amplifies target genes directly in blood without complex sample preprocessing and quickly and accurately determines the presence of exogenous genes using gene-editing technology (CRISPR-Cas).
The researchers injected representative gene doping substances such as human growth hormone (hGH), EPO, and IGF-I into experimental mouse models and applied the analysis platform. They successfully detected exogenous genes at the level of 2.5 molecules within 90 minutes, using an extremely small blood sample of 5 µL (microliters; 1 µL is one millionth of a liter), which is less than half of a droplet of blood from a fingertip.
Chung Chang-min noted, "This research provides a practical solution that can contribute to overcoming the limitations of existing technologies by applying gene-editing technologies to doping tests and preserving the ethics and fairness of sports. There is great potential for future development as a core foundation for precision medicine and genetic diagnostic technologies."
References
Science Advances (2025), DOI : https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adv7234