Thursday 22nd November

9:00am Keynote address by Sally Box, the Threatened Species Commissioner

9:30am Plenary by Philipp Messer: 'Can CRISPR gene drives spread in the wild?'

10:20am Gene drive research talks on insects

Charles Robin (University of Melbourne – drosophila)

Morning tea (10:40–11:00)

11:00am Gene drive and conservation research: mammals

James Russell 'Ecological filters to invasive rat establishment on islands'

Paul Thomas ‘Hype or hope: safe development of CRISPR gene drives in rodents’

Dan Tompkins 'IUCN Assessment of Synthetic Biology and Biodiversity Conservation'

12:15pm Potential of gene drive technology in invasive species management

Caitlin Cooper (for Mark Tizard of Australian Animal Health Lab, CSIRO)

Lunch (12:50–13:50)

1:50pm Gene drive modelling

Thomas Prowse 'Engineered gene drives for suppressing or eradicating vertebrate pest populations'

2:10pm Risk Assessment of gene drives

Keith Hayes (CSIRO Biosecurity Flagship)

Afternoon tea (14:50–15:15)

3:15pm Discussion of gene drive risks and safeguards in practice

FACILITATED DISCUSSION – led by Keith Hayes

Extrinsic confinement methods in practice

Barrier confinement

Ecological confinement

Intrinsic confinement methods in practice

Reproductive confinement

Molecular confinement

23rd November 2018

9:00am Information sharing between groups

FACILITATED DISCUSSION – led by Phill Cassey

10:00am Identification of experiments and data needed to get to field trial

FACILITATED DISCUSSION – led by Paul Thomas

Morning tea (11:00–11:20)

11:20am Regulatory engagement

Owain Edwards – ‘Proactive engagement of Australia regulators in gene drive technology development’

11:40am Regulatory Framework and risk assessment for GMOs

OGTR – Peter Thygesen – 20 minutes

FACILITATED DISCUSSION – 40 minutes - led by Peter Thygesen

Lunch (12:40–13:40)

1:40pm Stakeholder and community engagement

Margaret Byrne (Executive Director, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, WA Dept of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions)

Rachel Ankeny (Uni of Adelaide – Social science)

FACILITATED DISCUSSION – 40 minutes – led by Rachel Ankeny

Afternoon tea (15:00–15:15)

3:15pm Australasian working group

Facilitated discussion about future direction and issues. Expressions of interest for an Australasian gene drive working group to continue to inform regulators and shape engagement strategies.