BRAG Topic Areas
Research designed to identify and develop appropriate management practices to minimize physical and biological risks associated to the environment associated with genetically engineered animals, plants, and microorganisms. Research designed to develop methods to monitor the dispersal of genetically engineered animals, plants, and microorganisms. Research designed to further existing knowledge with respect to the characteristics, rates, and methods of gene transfer that may occur between genetically engineered animals, plants, and microorganisms, and related wild and agricultural organisms. Environmental assessment research designed to provide analysis which compares the relative impacts of animals, plants, and microorganisms modified through genetic engineering to other types of production systems. Other areas of research designed to further the purposes of this section. Potential areas of research include, but are not limited to: (a) The potential for unintended effects of introduced foreign gene products. [Such studies may include development of improved methods to assess potential impacts on non-target organisms; direct or indirect (pleiotropic) effects of transgenes on host biochemistry or host gene expression where there is reason to expect that changes could significantly affect non-target organisms; etc.] and (b) Assessing the effects of genetically engineered plants with stacked or pyramided resistance genes or multiple genes that confer broad resistance to insects or diseases. (Research focus areas include: the impact of gene stacking on non-target species; the effects of stacked genes on pest populations; and ecological significance and practices needed to address weedy hosts with pest complexes sufficiently variable as to require broad resistance or stacked genes for their control.) Proposals on pest resistance management are not excluded from the program, but any such proposals submitted should describe a clear and significant connection with biotechnology risk assessment/management. Conferences that bring together scientists, regulators, and other stakeholders to review the science-based data relevant to science-based risk assessment or risk management of genetically modified organisms released into the environment.
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