The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has given a huge $3 million grant to the University of Missouri. This grant will bring big changes to the fields of biomedical (medicine) and agriculture. Taking the lead in this important work is Associate Professor Kiho Lee from the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. This means they will be at the forefront of all the amazing new ideas and discoveries that will help both our health and our food production.
The grant aims to propel gene-editing technology to new heights, unlocking critical insights into human diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer, and infertility, while simultaneously addressing global food insecurity challenges.
With Alzheimer’s disease affecting an estimated 6.7 million Americans over the age of 65, gene editing offers a promising avenue for potential solutions. Professor Lee envisions a future where gene editing can tackle early-onset cases and provide much-needed breakthroughs in the biomedical field. However, this grant's significance extends far beyond medicine, as Lee aspires to harness gene editing to enhance pig welfare and boost food production for farmers.
At the core of the study lies the CRISPR/Cas system, a cutting-edge genome editing technology. Lee and his team will meticulously evaluate its efficacy and safety, focusing on three crucial objectives:
1. Pioneering a method to globally detect unintended outcomes from gene editing in genetically engineered pigs.
2. Designing an approach to preserve genome integrity during the gene editing process.
3. Establishing a strategy to rapidly assess genetically engineered pig traits in utero and enhance the genome of wild-type adult pigs for favorable agricultural and biomedical attributes.
The goal is they want to create special pigs with only the changes they intend to make. By doing this, they can make gene editing much better and faster. This means they can control exactly how the pigs look and behave. With this improved technique, they can quickly breed pigs with specific traits they want, making agriculture better and more productive.
Collaboration with USDA-ARS scientist, Bethany Redel, further amplifies the research's impact, solidifying the partnership between the University of Missouri and USDA-ARS. Through the Dual Purpose with Dual Benefit program, a joint effort by the NIH and USDA, this grant signifies a united commitment to finding transformative solutions for the future of agriculture and healthcare.
Professor Lee's amazing work brings hope for a better future. Gene editing will become a strong tool that leads to incredible progress in human health and global food sustainability. Thanks to this grant, we can expect groundbreaking discoveries that will make a big difference in medicine and farming. It's exciting to see what positive changes are ahead for all of us.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-dra-schwartz
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