Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
his project supports the mission of the Agricultural Experiment Station by addressing the Hatch Act area(s) of: plant and animal production, protection, and health; biotechnology.This project supports the mission of the Agricultural Experiment Station by addressing the Hatch Act area(s) of: biotechnology and plant and animal production, protection, and health by contributing to the support of the 14th Transgenic Animal Research Conference hosted by UC Davis. This conference brings together leading researchers from labs around the world working on the genetic engineering and gene editing of agriculturally-important animals including livestock, poultry and fish. The goal of the conference is to convey new knowledge, foster collaborations and move the field of applying genome modifications to domesticated food-animal species forward. The conference also provides an opportunity for interactions with regulators for better understanding and shaping of policy. The conference will be held August 13-17, 2023 at the Granlibakken Conference Center in Tahoe City, CA. The conference will consist of 25 invited oral presentations and two poster sessions. Topics of invited talks include technology, agricultural and biomedical applications, genetic containment and regulation. Speaker and poster abstracts will be made available (open access) on the conference website. Two afternoons from noon to 4 p.m. and one evening will be free to foster small group interactions with the intent of bringing scientists and regulators together to discuss progress, problems and potential applications of gene biotechnologies as applied to animals. Funds are requested to support conference costs for three speakers (Maselko, Pinzon Arteaga and Han, $4,500), ten $1,500 grants (total of $15,000) to cover all costs for ten graduate and post-doctoral students attending the conference (selection based on poster abstract submission), with the remaining funds ($5,550) being used to support administration of the conference. Overall, the conference will provide a venue for the sharing of scientific information on recent advancements in this field leading to outreach and the education of the public on topics around applying current state of the art biotechnologies for gene modification to benefit animal agriculture. The conference is aligned with the overall purpose of the BRAG Program in that is geared toward disseminating science-based information on genetically engineered animals in order to assist Federal regulatory agencies on making policy/decisions on the use of such animals in agricultural production systems.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The goal of this project is to host a three day in-person international conference focused on genetic engineering and gene editing in livestock, poultry and fish. The main objective of the conference is to bring together scientists from academia, industry and government labs/agencies from around the world to present and discuss the latest research and developments in the science of using gene biotechnologies in agriculturally important species. The conference is designed to promote the exchange of ideas, foster interactions between participants and provide science-based information for governmental regulators and the general public.
Project Methods
Science-based knowledge will be delivered in the form of oral presentations and posters. There will be a total of 25 invited talks and two poster sessions by other conference participants over the duration of the conference. In addition, all students presenting a poster will also give a short oral `poster pitch' presentation during a plenary session. Eleven of the invited talks are specifically applicable to the BRAG Program objectives including work on genetic engineering for population suppression, technologies around gene editing and regulatory issues as outlined below. Other talks focus on applications of gene editing technologies in food animal species for both agricultural and biomedical purposes as well as benefits and hurdles associated with bringing products from genetically engineered/gene edited animals into the market.Population suppressionMaciej Maselko, Macquarie University Australia- New methods for bioremediationTechnologies around gene editingCarlos Pinzon Arteaga, UT Southwestern- Production of bovine blastoidsKihoo Lee, University of Missouri- Optimizing embryo technology in pigsJae Yong Han, Seoul National University- Gene editing in the birdRegulatory issuesDiane Wray-Cahen, USDA- Policy overviewDaniel Kovich, USDA- Trade perspectives and gene edited animalsEric Schulze, UpsideFoods- 1st GE fish vs 1st cultured meat approvalJohn Buchanan, Center for Aquaculture Technologies- Regulatory approach for germline replacementChantal March, Aquabounty- Experience with the regulatory processClint Nisbitt, Genus- Experience with the regulatory process John Bianchi, Revivicor- Experience with the regulatory process ?