GUARDIAN Industry Day

The Genetic Utilization for Advanced Regulation and Defense of Indigenous and Native Species (GUARDIAN) program aims to develop innovative approaches to controllably eliminate invasive species from defined areas using genetic drive technologies. The program is divided into three options: Option 1 focuses on vertebrate gene drives, specifically the Brown Tree Snake (BTS); Option 2 seeks to develop advanced cell-culture models to predict the generational behavior of gene drives; and Option 3 focuses on population modeling of gene drives. The program will be executed over two phases, with a total duration of 36 months. The first phase will last 18 months, and the second phase will also last 18 months. Some key points about the job and scope-of-work include: * Developing genetic drive technologies (GDTs) that are precise, controllable, and cost-effective * Minimizing off-target effects and the evolution of resistance * Creating rapid genome sequencing and annotation pipelines for non-model species * Identifying effective target genes and engineering traceable tags for field monitoring * Integrating AI/ML to improve target identification and predict off-target effects * Developing breeding methods that allow for the creation of an F2 generation * Demonstrating the ability to stop the GDT in 5 generations * Achieving a population reduction of 95% or more * Developing heritable tracking methods and/or stand-off measurements