ABSTRACT
Support is requested for a Keystone Symposia conference entitled Precision Genome Engineering, organized
by Drs. Laura Sepp-Lorenzino and Matthew Porteus. The conference will be held in Whistler, BC, Canada
from March 19-23, 2023.
Genome editing is a powerful and precise tool to change the sequence of cellular DNA for both better
elucidating disease mechanisms and for developing new treatments to address underlying pathologies at the
genomic, epigenomic and transcriptomic level. The basic understanding of how genome editing works, the
development of new tools in genome editing, and the translation to clinic are evolving at a rapid pace.
Likewise, gene editing is revolutionizing biology and therapeutics. An ever-expanding toolbox of editing
enzymes and delivery solutions enable the precise manipulation of the genome, and it is fueling a diverse
pipeline of applications in cell biology, plant and animal science and human therapeutics. Emerging clinical
data from gene edited cell therapies along with preclinical data from in vivo delivered gene editing drug
candidates are demonstrating the feasibility, versatility, and potential for efficacy and safety in humans.
Furthermore, there is great interest and investment into gene editing for crops and livestock. Therefore, this
Keystone Symposia conference will cover key aspects of the genome editing field, from fundamental
biochemistry to tool development, to applications in biology, agriculture, and medicine. The conference will be
of interest to scientists from both academia and biopharma, including regulators and ethicists. Moreover, this
conference will also uniquely bring together scientists who have studied natural genome editing systems and
natural DNA damage repair with scientists trying to develop novel genome editing systems through the
juxtaposition of a conference focused on Genomic Instability and DNA Repair. These joint conferences will
share two dual keynote lectures and two plenary sessions: Genome Instability and Cancer and Genome
Editing and DNA Repair. Participants will also share mealtimes and poster sessions to enhance networking
opportunities. In addition, this conference program includes a Career Development Workshop and features a
panel discussion on Genome Editing Ethics. The program was also designed to provide ample opportunities
for junior participates to be selected for workshop presentations as well as short talks during plenary sessions.