Can gene drive eliminate vector-borne diseases?

The potential uses and impacts of gene drive technologies are a topic of growing interest at the international and national level in many countries. The Gene Drive Webinar Series aims to help promote a productive and balanced conversation on the benefits and risks of possible gene drive applications, providing factual and accurate information that can help place the discussion under the Convention on Biological Diversity in context.

On this webinar, experts discussed:

1. the status of vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue in Africa and Asia
2. gene drive application to limit the spread of vector-borne diseases and
3. usefulness and limitations of gene drive approaches in vector-borne diseases control.

The webinar is hosted by the ISAAA SEAsiaCenter and co-organized with the Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research and the ISAAA Biotechnology Information Centers.

Speakers:

• Prof. Eng Eong Ooi, Professor, Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases Duke-NUS Medical School
• Dr. Chun Hong Chen Associate Investigator, Institute of Infectious Disease and Vaccinology National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan
• Dr. Maria Vittoria Mancini Vector Biologist Polo d’Innovazione di Genomica, Genetica e Biologia (Polo GGB)

Moderator: Dr. Sheetal Silal Director, Modelling and Simulation Hub, Africa (MASHA) University of Cape Town