Topics and Trends in Most Cited CRISPR and Genetic Engineering Papers

Ranked by citations 18 months after publication

Class of 2026 (Papers Published in 2024)

What topics and trends defined most-cited CRISPR and Genetic Engineering research in the Class of 2026?

The 2024 CRISPR and Genetic Engineering cohort highlights a surge in Cas12a adoption, prime editing, and diagnostic trans-cleavage activity, alongside a 6-fold increase in targeted DNA insertion. Emerging themes like AI-guided protein design and programmable recombination expanded rapidly, while early base editing modalities saw relative declines.

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Updated July 21, 2026

At a glance

Field
CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
Cohort label
Class of 2026 (2024 publications)
Papers analyzed
9,342
Papers ranked
20
Top topics in ranked papers
Cas12a, prime editing, off-target editing, trans-cleavage activity, targeted DNA insertion
Publication window
Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Eligibility
Research articles; reviews excluded
Citation window
18 months post-publication
18m citation range
70–369
Data source
OpenAlex · Retrieved Jun 2026
License
CC BY 4.0

Rankings

20 papers ranked by 18-month citation count

#1 of 9,342
36918m citations

Sequence modeling and design from molecular to genome scale with Evo

Eric Nguyen, Michael Poli, Matthew G Durrant, Brian Kang, Dhruva Katrekar, David B Li et al.Science202410.1126/science.ado9336

Eric Nguyen, Michael Poli, Matthew G. Durrant, Brian Kang, Dhruva Katrekar, David Li, Patrick D. Hsu, Brian HieArc Institute, United States

Evolong-context genomic foundation modelprokaryotic genomesphage genomesscaling laws on DNAZero-shot predictionCRISPR-Cas system generationtransposon system generationprotein-RNA codesignprotein-DNA codesignmutation effect predictionwhole-organism fitnessmegabase-scale sequence generationgenomic architecturecross-modality generalizationDNA language modelRNA language modelProtein language model
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#2 of 9,342
14418m citations

Rapid in silico directed evolution by a protein language model with EVOLVEpro

Kaiyi Jiang, Zhaoqing Yan, Jonathan S Gootenberg, Omar O Abudayyeh et al.Science202410.1126/science.adr6006

Kaiyi Jiang, Zhaoqing Yan, Matteo Di Bernardo, Jonathan S. Gootenberg, Omar O. AbudayyehBrigham and Women's Hospital, United States

EVOLVEproProtein language modelDirected evolutionfew-shot active learningFitness landscapemultiproperty optimizationZero-shot predictionRNA productionGenome editingantibody bindingregression modelsAI-guided protein engineeringprotein activity predictionlocal maxima traps
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#4 of 9,342
13418m citations

Split crRNA with CRISPR-Cas12a enabling highly sensitive and multiplexed detection of RNA and DNA

Yichuan Chen, Xinping Wang, Junqi Zhang et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-52691-x

Jie Qiao, Yi LiuWuhan Polytechnic University, China

crRNACas12aSCas12a systemAmplification-free detectionNucleic acid detectionmicroRNA detectionmature miRNA versus pre-miRNA differentiationPoint mutation detectionmiR-21cervical cancer plasma samplesHPV detectionRPA combinationAttomolar detectionlateral flow assayfluorescence-based detectionMultiplexed detectionTrans-cleavage activitylong RNA detectionbiomarker quantification
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#5 of 9,342
13318m citations

FOXO1 enhances CAR T cell stemness, metabolic fitness and efficacy

Jack D Chan, Christina M Scheffler, Isabelle Munoz et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-07242-1

Junyun Lai, Paul A. Beavis, Phillip K. DarcyPeter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia

FOXO1CAR T cellsstemnessmetabolic fitnesssolid tumoursstem-like phenotypemitochondrial massmitochondrial fitnessimmunosuppressive tumour microenvironmentT cell persistenceTranscription factorsacute lymphoblastic leukaemiaB cell lymphomamultiple myelomagenetic engineeringmetabolic dysfunctiontherapeutic efficacy
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#6 of 9,342
12118m citations

Targeted genome-modification tools and their advanced applications in crop breeding

Boshu Li, Chao Sun et al.Nature Reviews Genetics202410.1038/s41576-024-00720-2

Caixia GaoChinese Academy of Sciences, China

targeted genome modificationPlant breedingGenome editing toolsCRISPR-Cas systemTALENszinc finger nucleasesbase editorsPrime editinggene knockoutTargeted DNA insertiontrait improvementagricultural biotechnologyprecision breedingOff-target editingdelivery methodsregulatory frameworks
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#7 of 9,342
11318m citations

In vivo editing of lung stem cells for durable gene correction in mice

Yehui Sun et al.Science202410.1126/science.adk9428

Yehui Sun, Sumanta Chatterjee, Daniel J. SiegwartThe University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, United States

Lipid nanoparticleIn vivo genome editinglung stem cellsAdenine base editorNG-ABE8eCystic FibrosisCFTRR553X nonsense mutationF508delIntravenous administrationtdTomato reporter micepatient-derived bronchial epithelial cellsintestinal organoidsTrikaftaGene correctionCFTR function restorationsgR553Xlung epithelial cellsCF mouse model
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#8 of 9,342
10718m citations

CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing with Nexiguran Ziclumeran for ATTR Cardiomyopathy

Marianna Fontana et al.New England Journal of Medicine202410.1056/nejmoa2412309

Marianna FontanaUniversity College London, United Kingdom

CRISPR-Cas9 gene editingNexiguran ziclumeranATTR cardiomyopathyserum TTR levelNT-proBNPhigh-sensitivity cardiac troponin T6-minute walk distanceNYHA classvariant ATTR-CMinfusion-related reactionstransient liver-enzyme elevationssingle intravenous infusionphase 1 open-label trialTTR reduction
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#9 of 9,342
10618m citations

Engineered virus-like particles for transient delivery of prime editor ribonucleoprotein complexes in vivo

Meirui An et al.Nature Biotechnology202410.1038/s41587-023-02078-y

David R. LiuBroad Institute of MIT and Harvard, United States

Prime editingengineered virus-like particleseVLPsRibonucleoproteinnicking single guide RNAstransient deliverygenetic blindnessretinal editingvisual function rescueprotein expression restorationOff-target editingTransgene removalin vivo deliverygenomic substitutionsinsertions and deletions
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#10 of 9,342
10618m citations

In vivo human T cell engineering with enveloped delivery vehicles

Jennifer R Hamilton et al.Nature Biotechnology202410.1038/s41587-023-02085-z

Jennifer A. DoudnaUniversity of California, Berkeley, United States

enveloped delivery vehicleseVLPsantibody-targeted deliveryCRISPR-Cas9 protein deliveryguide RNA deliverycell surface marker recognitionantibody fragmentsmembrane-derived particlesIn vivo genome editingcell-type selectivityAAVantibody-antigen interactionsHuman T cellsCAR T cellshumanized miceMultiplexed gene editingtransient deliveryex vivo genome editing
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#11 of 9,342
10518m citations

Durable and efficient gene silencing in vivo by hit-and-run epigenome editing

Martino Alfredo Cappelluti et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-07087-8

Angelo LombardoIRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Italy

hit-and-run epigenome editingEpigenetic silencingPcsk9zinc-finger proteinsLipid nanoparticlemRNA deliveryepigenetic repressive marksliver regenerationheritability of epigenetic stateEvoETRDNA-binding platformcholesterol homeostasishepatocytestransient editor deliverygene silencing without DNA breaksin vivo epigenetic therapeutics
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#12 of 9,342
10518m citations

Lung and liver editing by lipid nanoparticle delivery of a stable CRISPR–Cas9 ribonucleoprotein

Kai Chen, Hesong Han et al.Nature Biotechnology202410.1038/s41587-024-02437-3

Niren Murthy, Jennifer A. DoudnaUniversity of California Berkeley, United States

Lipid nanoparticleCRISPR-Cas9RibonucleoproteinGeobacillus stearothermophilusGeoCas9RNP-LNP complexesIn vivo genome editingHomology-directed repairSingle-stranded DNA templatestissue-selective LNP formulationsliver editinglung editingIntravenous administrationSFTPC genebiodegradable LNPsnonviral delivery
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#13 of 9,342
10118m citations

Efficient site-specific integration of large genes in mammalian cells via continuously evolved recombinases and prime editing

Smriti Pandey, Xin D Gao et al.Nature Biomedical Engineering202410.1038/s41551-024-01227-1

David R. LiuBroad Institute of MIT and Harvard, United States

PASSIGEPrime editingProgrammable recombinationPhage-assisted continuous evolutionevoBxb1eeBxb1Targeted DNA insertionsafe-harbour lociprimary human fibroblastsPASTEtherapeutically relevant genomic sitesdonor integration efficiencymammalian genome engineering
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#15 of 9,342
9518m citations

CD70-Targeted Allogeneic CAR T-Cell Therapy for Advanced Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Sumanta K Pal et al.Cancer Discovery202410.1158/2159-8290.cd-24-0102

Sumanta K. PalCity of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, United States

CD70-targeted CAR T-cell therapyCTX130CAR T cellsclear cell renal cell carcinomarelapsed/refractory ccRCCRCC xenograft tumorsdose-limiting toxicitydurable complete responseCTX131synergistic potency editsCD70+ malignanciesphase I first-in-human clinical trialdisease control rate
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#16 of 9,342
7718m citations

In situ targeted base editing of bacteria in the mouse gut

Andreas K Brödel, Loïc H Charpenay et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-07681-w

Jesús Fernández-Rodríguez, Xavier Duportet, David BikardEligo Bioscience, France

Base editinggut microbiomephage-derived particlebase editor deliveryEscherichia coliβ-lactamase genenon-replicative DNA vectorKlebsiella pneumoniaecurli productionpathogenic E. colicolonizing bacteriaediting efficiencystable bacterial maintenancemicrobiome-targeted therapiesGenome editing tools
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#17 of 9,342
7318m citations

Bone-marrow-homing lipid nanoparticles for genome editing in diseased and malignant haematopoietic stem cells

Xizhen Lian et al.Nature Nanotechnology202410.1038/s41565-024-01680-8

Daniel J. SiegwartThe University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, United States

bone-marrow-homing lipid nanoparticlesGenome editingHematopoietic stem and progenitor cellsmalignant haematopoietic stem cellsdiseased haematopoietic stem cellsLipid nanoparticlebone marrow targetingHSC gene therapynanoparticle delivery systemHematological disordershaematological malignancies
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#18 of 9,342
7318m citations

Structure and repair of replication-coupled DNA breaks

Raphael Pavani, Veenu Tripathi et al.Science202410.1126/science.ado3867

Raphael Pavani, Veenu Tripathi, André NussenzweigNational Cancer Institute, United States

CRISPR-Cas9 nicking enzymesreplication fork collapsesingle-strand breaksleading-strand nickslagging-strand nickssingle-ended double-strand breaksseDSBsdouble-ended double-strand breaksdeDSBsHomology-directed repairend resectionBRCA153BP1RAD51 filament formationreplication fork stabilityHR-deficient cancersgenomic scarringreplication-coupled DNA breaks
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#19 of 9,342
7218m citations

Machine Learning-Assisted, Dual-Channel CRISPR/Cas12a Biosensor-In-Microdroplet for Amplification-Free Nucleic Acid Detection for Food Authenticity Testing

Zhiying Zhao et al.ACS Nano202410.1021/acsnano.4c10823

Shengying Ye, Shuli Man, Long MaTianjin University of Science & Technology, China

CRISPR/Cas12a biosensormicrodroplet platformCC-dropTrans-cleavage activitycrRNAsingle-stranded DNA reporterpicoliter reaction volumeAmplification-free detectionrandom forest machine learning modelsmartphone Appfluorescence lighting-up detectionND1 geneIL-2 genemeat species authenticityfood authenticity testingtruncated DNA detectiondeep processed meat productsMultiplexed detectiondigital single-molecule detection
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#20 of 9,342
7018m citations

RNA-Activated CRISPR/Cas12a Nanorobots Operating in Living Cells

Aijiao Yuan et al.Journal of the American Chemical Society202410.1021/jacs.4c02354

Hanyong PengChinese Academy of Sciences, China

Cas12aRNA activationTrans-cleavage activitycis-cleavage activitycrRNAcollateral cleavageCRISPR nanorobotsGold nanoparticlemicroRNA detectionliving cell imagingmultiple-turnover cleavageFluorescence signal amplificationlocal effective concentrationtrans-cleavage kineticsnucleic acid substratesreal-time imagingintracellular biosensing
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Dominant research themes and year-over-year shifts in CRISPR and Genetic Engineering

What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

The 2024 CRISPR and Genetic Engineering cohort is characterized by a strong shift toward next-generation precision editing toolkits and translational delivery mechanisms. Next-generation enzymes and precision platforms lead the field, with Cas12a and prime editing emerging as the most frequent specific themes (each appearing in 16% of top-ranked publications). Rather than simple double-strand break induction, research heavily emphasizes precise sequence rewriting and safety, reflected in prominent mentions of off-target editing evaluation (14%) and targeted DNA insertion (12%). Simultaneously, diagnostic and delivery innovations feature prominently. Trans-cleavage activity (14%) and nucleic acid detection (8%) highlight the expanding diagnostic utility of CRISPR effectors. On the therapeutic front, lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery (10%) and ribonucleoprotein (RNP) formulations (8%) represent primary vehicles for in vivo genome editing (8%). Furthermore, cell therapy applications remain robust, driven by CAR T cell engineering (8%) and high-throughput CRISPR screening (8%). Overall, the Class of 2026 highlights a mature landscape where biochemical precision, non-viral delivery, and off-target mitigation drive high-impact research.

Leading research themes
Leading research themes

How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026?

Comparing the Class of 2025 (2023 publications) to the Class of 2026 (2024 publications) reveals a clear pivot from early base editing modalities toward advanced spatial insertion, diagnostic trans-cleavage, and AI-guided design. Trans-cleavage activity witnessed the most dramatic growth, surging 7-fold from 2% to 14% of top publications as CRISPR-based diagnostic assays gained widespread adoption. Targeted DNA insertion also experienced a 6-fold rise (2% to 12%), reflecting increased momentum around large-payload gene integration without donor DNA or double-strand breaks. Cas12a variants expanded nearly 2.7-fold (6% to 16%), solidifying their role as preferred effectors for both diagnostics and editing. Furthermore, 2024 marked the rapid rise of AI-driven protein engineering and programmable recombination—such as zero-shot mutation prediction and bridge RNA recombinases—which entered the top-cited tier from zero previous representation. In contrast, early-generation base editing platforms experienced relative declines: general base editing dropped from 14% to 6%, and adenine base editors decreased from 10% to 6%. This shift underscores a broader reorientation toward larger, safer, and machine-learning-designed genomic modifications.

How topics shifted year over year
How topics shifted year over year
Methodology

PRI identifies high-impact research using a transparent, topic-agnostic framework applied consistently across scientific domains. Bibliographic records are drawn from OpenAlex, including publication dates, citation relationships, and document types.

This ranking covers the Class of 2026 cohort: journal articles published in 2024. Reviews and other non-article document types are excluded to ensure comparability.

Research impact is quantified with an 18-month post-publication citation window—the number of citing works published within 18 months of each paper's publication date. This metric captures early impact while controlling for publication age.

An LLM-based relevance classifier then reviews each candidate's title and abstract to confirm substantive alignment with the target domain. Only papers classified as relevant appear in the final ranking.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459

Full methodologyGitHubbioRxiv preprint

Cite this ranking

Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited CRISPR and Genetic Engineering Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/crispr-and-genetic-engineering/2026. Accessed 2026-07-21.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459