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2016 - Annual Project Directors Meeting for USDA BRAG Program

The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) hosted the 2016 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants Program (BRAG) Annual Project Directors (PD) Meeting in Riverdale, MD on May 24, 2016, at the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service - Biotechnology Regulatory Service (APHIS-BRS) headquarters.

The overall goal of the PD Meeting was to improve post-award management of competitive grants administered by NIFA and ARS and enhance communication and interaction between USDA program staff and BRAG awardees. The meeting featured oral and poster presentations by BRAG awardees from 2012–2016. In addition, federal regulators from APHIS-BRS, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA), and ARS staff& discussed emerging research needs, outcomes, and impacts regarding environmental risk related to genetically engineered organisms. An open discussion between federal regulators and awardees took place regarding these issues and topics related to co-existence. NIFA and ARS program staff moderated the meeting.

Download or view the meeting booklet below.
Download or view the following presentations below:

BRAG Program Overview - NIFA
Plant Pest Risk Assessment - APHIS
Environmental Assessment of GE Animals - FDA
Research Needs and Considerations for Microbial Pest Control Agents - EPA

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