{"id":1571,"date":"2018-11-14T15:59:57","date_gmt":"2018-11-14T15:59:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/genedrivenetwork.org\/blog\/open-letter-research-on-gene-drive-technology-can-benefit-conservation-and-public-health\/"},"modified":"2025-05-06T16:14:12","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T16:14:12","slug":"open-letter-research-on-gene-drive-technology-can-benefit-conservation-and-public-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/genedrivenetwork.org\/es\/blog\/open-letter-research-on-gene-drive-technology-can-benefit-conservation-and-public-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Letter: Research on gene drive technology can benefit conservation and public health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As a global community, we are facing life-threatening challenges that undermine our future, from catastrophic loss of biodiversity to acute public health threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malaria cases are on the rise again after decades of progress, and fragile ecosystems are undergoing intensifying rates of extinctions. These challenges require new and complementary tools if we are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the Aichi Targets[i]<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) meets for the 14th Conference of the Parties (COP14) in Egypt in November, decision-makers from countries around the world will have an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of enabling research to support responsible innovation and evidence-based decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing the door on research by creating arbitrary barriers, high uncertainty, and open-ended delays will significantly limit our ability to provide answers to the questions policy-makers, regulators and the public are asking. The moratorium suggested at CBD on field releases would prevent the full evaluation of the potential uses of gene drive. Instead, the feasibility and modalities of any field evaluation should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much of the progress we have made in the past century in improving the livelihoods and wellbeing of communities around the world is the result of increased knowledge acquired through scientific research. Science has not brought solutions to all our problems, but improved understanding and evidence have been key to progress. Innovations in vaccines, for example, have saved millions of lives: the 74% percent reduction in childhood deaths from measles over the past decade is a demonstration of the life-changing power of scientific research [ii]<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gene drive is a well-established field of research. First observed in the 1920s in mice and Drosophila, gene drive is a naturally occurring phenomenon that has been the subject of investigation for many years. Recent advances in gene editing tools have allowed notable progress in the two years since gene drive was first discussed at CBD, helping deliver increased knowledge and greater understanding of the possible applications of gene drive, while shedding further light on its risks, limitations, and potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While these advances are important, there is still much more to be achieved before any gene drive organisms could be considered for regulatory evaluation. Key institutions, such as the African Union, have called for continued work in this field, emphasising the value of the opportunity and the need for informed case-by-case assessment of this technology by national authorities [iii]<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientists, alongside regulatory experts, funders and sponsors of the research, are working together to ensure research is carried out safely and responsibly, by building on previous experiences, using published policy and information, and putting in place monitoring and containment systems to prevent accidental releases [iv]<\/a><\/sup> [v]<\/a><\/sup>. Ongoing discussions are also taking place to determine suitable conditions for field evaluations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Member States can enable the Convention on Biological Diversity to be a platform for knowledge and experience sharing. We should not decide against the use of a tool before potential costs and benefits can be fully evaluated. We urge governments to ensure the decisions taken at the Convention on Biological Diversity\u2019s next meeting do not amount to a moratorium on gene drive research, but instead offer a balanced and constructive way forward for Parties to learn and monitor this field of research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click below to view the Open Letter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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english open letter<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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spanish open letter<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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french open letter<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Signed [1]<\/a><\/sup>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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Prof. Austin Burt,
Professor of Evolutionary Genetics
Imperial College London, UK
Principal Investigator, Target Malaria<\/td>		Prof. Andrea Crisanti,
Professor of Molecular Parasitology
Imperial College London, UK<\/td>		Dr Alekos Simoni,
Research Associate, Imperial College London, UK<\/td><\/tr>
Dr. Roya E. Haghighat-Khah,
Research Associate, Imperial College London, UK<\/td>		Prof. Steven Russell
Professor of Genome Biology, Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, UK<\/td>		Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Ruth M\u00fcller,
Head of the Unit, Medical Entomology,
Department of Biomedical Sciences,
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Belgium
Chief Manager, Genetics and Ecology Platform, PoloGGB, Italy<\/td><\/tr>
Brian B. Tarimo,
Research Scientist-Vector Biology & Parasitology, Department of Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences, Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania<\/td>		Prof. Claudia Emerson, PhD,
Director, Institute on Ethics & Policy for Innovation,\u00a0Associate Professor, Philosophy
McMaster University, Canada<\/td>		Prof. Neil Ferguson,
Director, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis
Head, Dept. of Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Vice-Dean (Academic Development),
Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK<\/td><\/tr>
Greta Immobile Molaro,\u00a0
Chief Executive Officer, Polo d\u2019Innovazione Genomica, Genetica e Biologia, Italy\u00a0<\/td>		Prof. Barry Stoddard,
Member, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, USA<\/td>		Raymond J. Monnat, Jr. M.D.,
Professor of Pathology and Genome Sciences, Adjunct Professor of Bioengineering, University of Washington,
USA<\/td><\/tr>
Nora J. Besansky,
O’Hara Professor of Biology, Department of Biological Sciences & Eck Institute of Global Health, University of Notre Dame, USA<\/td>		Professor Sir Charles Godfray FRS,
Oxford University, UK<\/td>		Dr. Jonathan Kayondo
Senior Research Officer\/ Ag HoD\u00a0
Division of Entomology, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Uganda<\/td><\/tr>
Mamadou Coulibaly
University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali<\/td>		Dr. Nikolai Windbichler,
Lecturer, Imperial College London, UK
Principal Investigator, Transmission: Zero<\/td>		Prof. George Christophides,
Professor of Infectious Diseases & Immunity, Imperial College London, UK
Principal Investigator, Transmission: Zero<\/td><\/tr>
Prof. Abdallah Daar
Professor of Clinical Public Health and Global Health,
Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Professor of Surgery, University of Toronto,
Canada<\/td>		Kevin M. Esvelt
Assistant Professor
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
USA<\/td>		Roberta Spaccapelo
Department of Experimental Medicine
University of Perugia
Italy<\/td><\/tr>
Dr. Diabate Abdoulaye
Chef de Bureau liaison recherche d\u00e9veloppement de la Direction R\u00e9gionale de l\u2019Ouest de l\u2019IRSS,
Burkina Faso
Maitre de Recherche
Chevalier de l\u2019Ordre des Palmes Acad\u00e9miques
Principal Investigator,
Target Malaria
Burkina Faso<\/td>		Dr. Charles Mbogo
Chief Research Scientist
Kemri-Wellcome Trust Research Programme<\/td>		Brian Richard Lovett
Department of Entomology
University of Maryland
USA<\/td><\/tr>
Angus Parker
Board Chair
Island Conservation<\/td>		Tim Allard
Acting Chief Executive
Australian Wildlife Conservancy
Australia<\/td>		Dr. John Godwin
Department of Biological Sciences
North Carolina State University
USA<\/td><\/tr>
Dr. Jason A. Delborne
Associate Professor
Genetic Engineering and Society Center
North Carolina State University
USA<\/td>		Dr. Karl Campbell
South America Regional Director
Island Conservation
Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Rodents Steering Committee<\/td>		Prof. Beth Shapiro
Professor
University of California Santa Cruz
USA<\/td><\/tr>
Prof. David Threadgill
Distinguished Professor of Molecular and Cellular Medicine
Texas A & M University
USA<\/td>		Prof. Anthony.A. James
University of California Irvine Malaria Initiative
USA
Tata Institute for Genetics and Society<\/td>		Dr. John Marshall
Assistant Professor
University of California Berkeley School of Public Health
USA<\/td><\/tr>
Dr. Omar S. Akbari
Division of Biological Sciences
Section of Cell and Developmental Biology
University of California San Diego,
\u00a0USA<\/td>		Prof. Paul Thomas
University of Adelaide,
Australia<\/td>		Dr. Jerome Amir Singh
Ethical, Legal, Social Issues Advisory Services on Global Health Research and Development
South Africa<\/td><\/tr>
Dr. Abraham Mnzava
Senior Malaria Coordinator
African Leaders Malaria Alliance<\/td>		Prof. Luke Alphey
Group Leader, Arthropod Genetics
Pirbright Institute,
UK<\/td>		Dr. Leonard Mboera
Southern African Center for Infectious Disease Surveillance
Tanzania<\/td><\/tr>
David Hartwell
Acting Board Chair
Wildlife Land Trust (Humane Society of the US)
Board Vice Chair
National Audubon\u00a0Society
USA<\/td>		Dr. Hirotaka Kanuka
Professor and Chair
Department of Tropical Medicine
Jikei University School of Medicine
Japan<\/td>		Victoria Seaver Dean
President
Seaver Institute
USA<\/td><\/tr>
Dr. S. Patrick Kachur, MD, MPH
Professor of Population and Family Health
Columbia University Medical Center
USA<\/td>		Prof. Kevin Marsh
Professor of Tropical Medicine
University of Oxford
UK
Senior Adviser
African Academy of Sciences<\/td>		Dr. Edward Katongole-Mbidde
Scientist
Uganda Virus Research Institute
Uganda<\/td><\/tr>
Prof. Paulo Paes de Andrade
Professor of Genetics
Federal University of Pernambuco
Brazil<\/td>		Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu
Director
Uganda Virus Research Institute
Uganda<\/td>		Dr. Shaibal Kumar Dasgupta
Tata Institute for Genetics and Society
India<\/td><\/tr>
Michael Gottlieb
Associate Director of Science, Retired
Foundation for the National Institutes of Health
USA<\/td>		Prof. Tom Burkot
Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine
James Cook University
Australia<\/td>		Prof. Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena
Johns Hopkins University
Bloomberg School of Public Health
Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Malaria Research Institute
USA<\/td><\/tr>
Dr. Laurence Slutsker
Director
Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases
Center for Malaria Control and Elimination
PATH<\/td>		Dr. Gregory Lanzaro
Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of California Davis
USA<\/td>		Prof. Ethan Bier
University of California San Diego
USA
Tata Institute for Genetics and Society
India
University of California Irvine Malaria Initiative
USA<\/td><\/tr>
Dr. Suresh Subramani
Distinguished Professor
Division of Biological Sciences
University of California San Diego
USA<\/td>		Prof. Sir Brian Greenwood CBE, FRS
Manson Professor of Clinical Tropical Medicine
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
UK<\/td>		Prof. Ingrid M. Parker
Professor and Chair
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of California Santa Cruz
USA<\/td><\/tr>
Prof. Azra Ghani
Chair in Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health
Imperial College London
UK<\/td>		Dr. Tony Nolan
Senior Research Fellow
Imperial College London
UK<\/td>		Prof. Paul Lasko, FRSC
Department of Biology
McGill University
Canada<\/td><\/tr>
Prof. Anne Dell CBE FRS FMedSci
Head
Department of Life Sciences
Imperial College London
UK<\/td>		Dr. Laurie Zoloth
Margaret E. Burton Professor
Senior Advisor to the Provost
Programs in Social Ethics
University of Chicago
USA<\/td>		Prof. Michael Bonsall
University of Oxford
UK<\/td><\/tr>
Allan Ronald OC OM MD FRSC,
Distinguished Professor Emeritus,
University of Manitoba
Canada<\/td>		Dr. Charles Mugoya
Chairperson,
National Biosafety Committee
Uganda National Council for Science and Technology
Uganda<\/td>		Prof. Zach N. Adelman
Professor and Presidential Impact Fellow
Department of Entomology
Texas A&M University
USA<\/td><\/tr>
Dr. Paul Ndebele
Senior Research Regulatory Specialist
Office of Research Excellence
George Washington University
USA<\/td>		Dr. Philippos A Papathanos
Senior Lecturer\u00a0
Department of Entomology
Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Israel<\/td>		Dr. Michael J. Smanski
University of Minnesota
USA<\/td><\/tr>
Prof. Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Tripet
Director
Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology
Keele University School of Life Sciences
UK<\/td>		Dr. Jeremy K. Herren
International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology
Kenya<\/td>		Prof. John Mumford
Professor of Natural Resource Management
Centre for Environmental Policy
Imperial College London
UK<\/td><\/tr>
Prof. Steve Lindsay
Chair in Public Health Entomology
Durham University
UK<\/td>		Valentino Gantz
Assistant Research Scientist
University of California San Diego
USA<\/td>		Dr. Daniel Masiga
Principal Scientist, Human and Animal Health
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology
Kenya<\/td><\/tr>
Dr. Karen Poiani
CEO
Island Conservation<\/td>		Dr. Chris A. Wozniak
Biologist
USA<\/td>		Dr. Michael R. Reddy
Senior Scientist
Microsoft Research
USA<\/td><\/tr>
Dr. Fredros Okumu
Director of Science
Ifakara Health Institute
Tanzania<\/td>		Prof. Traor\u00e9 S\u00e9kou F.
Director of the Malaria Research and Training Center\/Entomology
Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry
Mali<\/td>		Prof. Halidou Tinto, PharmD PhD
Regional Director
IRSS Nanoro
Head
Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro
Burkina Faso<\/td><\/tr>
Megan Serr
Research Associate
Department of Biology
North Carolina State University
USA<\/td>		Dr. Dimitri Blondel
Postdoctoral\u00a0Research Associate
Department of Biology
North Carolina State University
USA<\/td>		Andrew Veale
Senior Lecturer
Department of Environment and Animal Sciences
UNITEC
New Zealand<\/td><\/tr>
Daniel White
Research Fellow
University of Western Australia
Australia<\/td>		Dr. Louis G. Mukwaya
Scientific Advisor
Uganda Virus Research Institute
Uganda<\/td>		Prof. Nelson K. Sewankambo
Professor of Medicine and Director of THRiVE
Makerere University College of Health Sciences
Uganda<\/td><\/tr>
Michelle Connolly
Network Manager
ANTI-VeC (a GCRF Network in Vector Borne Disease)
MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR)
University of Glasgow
UK<\/td>		Prof. George Church
Harvard Medical School
USA<\/td>		Prof. Immo Kleinschmidt
Professor of Epidemiology
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
UK<\/td><\/tr>
Prof. Robin Lovell-Badge, CBE, FRS, FMed Sci
Senior Group Leader and Head
Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics
Francis Crick Institute<\/td>		Prof. Robert M. Waterhouse
Department of Ecology and Evolution
Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
University of Lausanne
Switzerland<\/td>		Prof. Mariangela Bonizzoni
Professor of Zoology
Department of Biology and Biotechnology
University of Pavia
Italy<\/td><\/tr>
Ben Novak
Lead Scientist\u00a0
Revive & Restore<\/td>		Dr Frederic Simard
French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD),
France<\/td>		Prof. Claudio Valladares Padua,
Researcher and Professor,
Brazil<\/td><\/tr>
Dr. Sabrina Absalon
Research Associate
Department of Infectious Diseases
Boston Children\u2019s Hospital
USA<\/td>		Alun L. Lloyd
Drexel Professor and Director of Biomathematics Program
Department of Mathematics
North Carolina State University
USA<\/td>		Prof. Jo Lines
Professor of Malaria Control and Vector Biology
London School of Tropical Hygiene and Medicine
UK<\/td><\/tr>
Dr. Fred Aboagye-Antwi
Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science
School of Biological Sciences
College of Basic and Applied Sciences
University of Ghana
Ghana<\/td>		N. Regina Rabinovich
ExxonMobil Scholar in Residence
Harvard TH Chan\u00a0School of Public Health
USA<\/td>		Yacine Diop Djibo
Executive Director
Speak Up Africa<\/td><\/tr>
Prof. Lizette L. Koekemoer
Research Professor\/Director
Wits Research Institute for Malaria
University of the Witwatersrand
South Africa<\/td>		Prof. Nicole Achee
Research Professor
Eck Institute for Global Health
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Notre Dame<\/td>		Dr. Philip Leftwich
Research Associate
Pirbright Institute
UK<\/td><\/tr>
Pr. Roch K. Dabir\u00e9
Directeur de Recherche
Chercheur Entomologiste M\u00e9dical
Directeur R\u00e9gional de l’IRSS
Burkina Faso<\/td>		Michael Smith
South West Regional Ecologist
Australian Wildlife Conservancy
Australia<\/td>		Malaria No More,
USA<\/td><\/tr>
Dr. Chris Somerville
Program Officer, Scientific Research
Open Philanthropy Project,
USA<\/td>		Dr. Heather Youngs,
Program Officer, Scientific Research
Open Philanthropy Project,
USA<\/td>		Dr. Philip Welkhoff, PhD
Director
Malaria Program
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
USA<\/td><\/tr>
Dr. Silas Majambere
Director
Mosquito Consulting
Norway<\/td>		Krijn Paaijmans
Assistant Professor
School of Life Sciences
Arizona State University
USA<\/td>		Sentelle Eubanks
PM James Lab
University of California, Irvine
USA<\/td><\/tr>
Dr. Douglas W. Miano
Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection
University of Nairobi
Kenya<\/td>		Prof. Gassama Yaye Kene
Plant Biotechnology
Universit\u00e9 Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar
Vice Chair
Acad\u00e9mie Nationale des Sciences et Techniques du S\u00e9n\u00e9gal
Senegal<\/td>		Jonathan Hoekstra
Vice-Chair
Island Conservation Board of Directors<\/td><\/tr>
Prof. Mike Turner
Head of Infection and Immunobiology
Wellcome Trust
UK<\/td>		Dr. Elizabeth Bennett
Vice President, Species Conservation
Wildlife Conservation Society<\/td>		Dr. Jeantine E. Lunshof
Research Scientist, Ethicist
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
USA<\/td><\/tr>
Dr. Sanjay Basu
Pirbright Institute
UK<\/td>		Paul Brindley
George Washington University
USA<\/td>		Dr. Martin C. Taylor
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
UK<\/td><\/tr>
Raymond St. Leger
University of Maryland
USA<\/td>		J. Royden Saah
Coordinator
Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Rodents Partnership
Island Conservation<\/td>		Dr. Athanase Badolo
Associate Professor of Medical Entomology
University Ouaga 1 Joseph Ki-Zerbo
Burkina Faso<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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[i]<\/a><\/sup> Bellard et al., (2016) \u201cAlien species as a driver of recent extinctions<\/a>\u201d Biology letters vol. 12,2.<\/p>\n

Spatz et al., (2017) \u201cGlobally threatened vertebrates on islands with invasive species<\/a>\u201d. Science Advances,<\/p>\n

Vol. 3, no. 10<\/p>\n

WHO (2017) World Malaria Report<\/a><\/p>\n

WHO (2015) Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016\u20132030<\/a><\/p>\n

[ii]<\/a><\/sup> WHO http:\/\/www.who.int\/immunization\/diseases\/measles\/global_coordination\/en\/index4.html<\/a><\/p>\n

[iii]<\/a><\/sup> See for e.g., the African Union High Level Expert Panel report (2018) Gene Drives for Malaria Control and Elimination in Africa<\/a> and the WHO Vector Control Advisory Committee (VCAG) Report of the fifth meeting of VCAG<\/a> and Report of the eighth meeting of VCAG<\/a> (2018)<\/p>\n

[iv]<\/a><\/sup> See for example:<\/p>\n