Webinar

A curated collection of webinars related to genetic biocontrol and gene drive

GeneConvene Global Collaborative | Lessons for Gene Drive from Ecology and Invasive Species Management

2024-12-10 14:09:28.

GeneConvene Global Collaborative | Considerations for the First Field Trials of Gene Drive for Malaria

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GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  YouTube,  2024-11-04 17:19:36.
A webinar organized by the GeneConvene Global Collaborative discussed the potential first field trials of gene drive technology for malaria control. This genetic modification approach aims to alter mosquito populations to reduce their ability to transmit malaria. While laboratory results are promising, no field trials have been conducted yet. Experts convened to explore key considerations for trial design, including efficacy, safety, and stakeholder perceptions. The challenges of indefinite spread associated with low-threshold gene drives complicate trial logistics, necessitating a phased testing approach recommended by the WHO. Key factors for site selection include regulatory structures, existing health data, and the need for isolated mosquito populations. The session aimed to share insights and foster discussion on the future of gene drive applications in malaria control.

GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Emerging Gene Drive Systems 2023

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David O'Brochta,  2023-02-22 15:50:48.
Gene drive systems are being engineered in the laboratory and in some cases shown to be effective at rapidly altering target-gene frequencies in experimental populations. Much of this foundational work has been conducted in insects in the laboratory. This webinar series will focus on emerging potential applications of gene drive technology in a wide variety of organisms. These webinars are intended to inform audiences of the rationale for these development efforts, the current state of research and development and outstanding challenges.

GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Wolbachia Biology, Mechanisms and Applications 2022

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David O'Brochta,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2022-10-15 06:57:26.
Intracellular and extracellular symbiotic/commensal bacteria have enormous potential when manipulated and deployed appropriately to serve as agents of control of insects and the pathogens they transmit. Wolbachia, an intracellular bacteria, is a well studied system and one that is used increasingly to control insect populations via cytoplasmic incompatibility and to alter the vectoral capacity of insect via pathogen inhibition. This webinar series will survey the applications of Wolbachia as a mosquito/dengue control intervention and the underlying biology that conditions its effectiveness.

GeneConvene Global Collaborative | Laboratory Containment of Arthropods Capable of Gene Drive: Best Practices and Recommendations

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Hector Quemada,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2022-10-13 14:19:28.
This webinar is presented by members of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene's American Committee of Medical Entomologists who were involved in drafting a recent Addendum to the ASTMH's Arthropod Containment Guidelines that specifically consider arthropods with gene drive systems. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/vbz.2021.0035

GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Demystifying the Convention on Biological Diversity – Seven Videos

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Hector Quemada and David O'Brochta,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2022-04-28 12:39:49.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international agreement aimed at providing the legal framework for country cooperation to conserve biodiversity, while also enabling its sustainable use, and providing for fair and equitable sharing of the benefits derived from that use. It became effective in 1993 when the first 30 countries signed it, but now has 196 parties. Biotechnology figures prominently in this agreement, since one of its major goal is to "promote and advance priority access on a fair and equitable basis by Contracting Parties, especially developing countries, to the results and benefits arising from biotechnologies." The CBD provides the basis for regulations on biotechnologies, particularly genetically engineered organisms (including gene drive organisms). While the convention, and its subsidiary agreements, have a significant impact on the regulatory environment within which synthetic gene drive research takes place, the procedures and decision-making processes connected with the CBD are often not transparent to researchers and others who do not closely follow the proceedings.

GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Genetic Drive Systems in Nature

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David O'Brochta and Hector Quemada,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2022-03-09 14:02:21.
Intra genomic genetic conflicts are ubiquitous in nature and have shaped and continue to shape the evolution of plants, animals, and microbes. These conflicts can result in preferential transmission - drive - of genes, various genetic elements, and even whole chromosomes. Interest in drive systems extends beyond the basic sciences to technologists who are exploring natural and synthetic drives as agents to suppress or modify species in nature. This webinar series will explore the variety of drive systems found in nature, mechanisms responsible for drive and impacts of drive on behavior and evolution..

GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Decision and Analysis Tools for Complex Problems

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Hector Quemada and David O'Brochta,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2021-10-13 20:07:26.
The challenges associated with the multiple phases of testing and possible deployment of gene drive-containing organisms appear to have similarities to those associated with various aspects of invasive species management. Preventing unwanted spread of the target species as well as monitoring and surveillance over large spatial scales are just two. Managing invasive species depends on making decisions based on an incomplete and sometimes very limited understanding of the relevant community ecology and the ever-present risk of unintended consequences. Can the deep experiences of those involved in invasive species management be leveraged against challenges in the gene drive domain? This webinar series will begin to explore that question.

GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Controlling Gene Drives

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David O'Brochta and Hector Quemada,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2021-09-07 15:47:37.
Some gene drive technologies being explored in the laboratory for possible use in the control and elimination of malaria in Africa are predicted to efficiently spread and persist indefinitely following their initial release into an environment containing the targeted mosquito species.  While the autonomous properties of some gene drive technologies are desirable features that are expected to make them effective at controlling hard to reach populations of targeted mosquitoes and to provide sustained control with minimal additional inputs, the ability to control spread and persistence remains important.  This series of webinars will feature researchers and developers exploring various control options for gene drive technologies.

GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Invasive Species Management: Informing Gene Drive Considerations

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David O'Brochta and Hector Quemada,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2021-08-07 13:38:24.
The management, control and elimination of invasive species involves solving problems that have analogs to those anticipating the use of gene drive technologies to control and eliminate malaria in Africa.  Avoiding unintended consequences from interventions designed to reduce or remove a species from an ecosystem has parallels in some applications of gene drive technologies.  Monitoring and surveilling for the movement of invasive species is critical for making management decisions and methods and approaches that have been devised to deal with challenges such as large geographic areas, low species densities, limited resources to name just a few could inform thinking about monitoring and surveillance of gene drive-containing organisms.  This series of webinars by invasive species specialists will feature research into how these challenges are being successfully addressed.

GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Ecological Relationships of Mosquito Disease Vectors: Anticipating Risk Assessment of Gene Drive Technologies

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Stephanie James, Hector Quemada and David O'Brochta,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2021-04-14 18:05:39.
An often-raised concern for the development of genetically modified mosquito technologies, particularly those involving gene drive, as tools to prevent disease transmission is the limitation of our understanding of the roles these species may play within the ecosystem. This series of webinars begins to explore what is known about the ecological relationships of mosquito vectors with regard to major types of species interactions. The speakers also will describe some of the methods by which potential interactions that may impact human or animal health and the environment can be examined in the context of case-by-case risk assessment and safety testing.

GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Ecological Modeling in Risk Assessment of Gene Drives

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Hector Quemada and David O'Brochta,  2021-02-23 18:20:53.
Unlike non-gene drive organisms, which can be limited in time and space and therefore provide data in small scale tests that can be relevant to large scale releases, the potential for large-scale spread from a limited release, even in well-isolated trials, means that reliance on models will be a more important tool for risk assessors. To date, this work has only started to receive attention. This series of four presentations deals with the development and use of models in ecology generally. Some of these presentations will also deal with the use of models specifically to assess the ecological impacts of gene drive organisms.

GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Genetic Biocontrol 2021

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David O'Brochta and Hector Quemada,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2021-02-05 21:53:11.
In the mid 20th century various ideas emerged concerning how genetics and genetic principles could be directly applied to age-old problems of managing insects that threaten food security and public health.  This series of webinars will explore the current state-of-the-art of what has been termed genetic control, genetic pest management and genetic biocontrol.  It will cover the use of sterility, conditional dominant lethality and Wolbachia-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility.  Gene drive, another type of genetic biocontrol, will not be covered in this series; it was recently the focus of webinar series dedicated to the topic. 

GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Engineered Gene Drives: Policy and Regulatory Considerations Webinar Series October-December 2020

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Hector Quemada and David O'Brochta,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2020-10-22 19:38:17.
In this series of webinars the regulatory and policy challenges of moving new innovative genetic biocontrol products such as gene drive technologies to the field will be featured. Each seminar is ~60 minutes in length followed by questions and answers.

GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Gene Drive Policy and Regulatory Considerations 2020

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Hector Quemada and David O'Brochta,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2020-10-13 17:50:24.
This is series of webinars the regulatory and policy challenges of moving new innovative genetic biocontrol products such as gene drive technologies to the field will be featured.

GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Gene Drive Policy and Regulatory Consideration

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Hector Quemada and David O'Brochta,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2020-10-13 17:34:35.
This is series of webinars the regulatory and policy challenges of moving new innovative genetic biocontrol products such as gene drive technologies to the field will be featured.

GeneConvene Global Collaborative Webinar Series | Gene Drive Technical Webinars

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David O'Brochta and Hector Quemada,  GeneConvene Global Collaborative,  2020-10-12 02:54:40.
A series of technical webinars on engineered gene drive technology research and development given by leading researchers in the field.