After decades of lab research, gene editing has emerged as one of the most promising tools in clinical development. Unlike most therapies today, gene editing could enable actual cures for diseases, including cancer, sickle cell disease and HIV. So, what will it take to realize this promise, and what has yet to be accomplished? In a sponsored virtual salon, hosted by Scientific American Custom Media, gene-editing pioneers George Church, Matthew Porteus and André Choulika, reflect on the field’s early days and explore the innovation landscape as a whole, with a focus on developing therapeutics, new disease targets and potential challenges to progress. The session, hosted by Scientific American Custom Media senior editor Dan Ferber, is followed by a brief audience Q&A.