Valuable What are Gene Drive Mosquitoes & Are encouraged to You be Worried? With Dr. Michael Santos

Could gene drive mosquitoes be the essential to ending deadly diseases like malaria and dengue or do the risks outweigh the benefits? Well, the jury is still out. On arecent episode of Causes or Cures, I chatted with Dr. Michael Santos about the controversial yet potentially groundbreaking technology known as gene drive. Unlike traditional genetically modified organisms, gene drive mosquitoes are engineered to pass on specific traits to nearly all of their offspring, drastically altering or suppressing mosquito populations that spread disease. With real-world field trials set to begin very soon, we dive into how this technology works, how it differs from standard genetic modification, what diseases it targets, and what could go wrong. We also explore how the trials will be conducted, regulated, and monitored to ensure safety and transparency. Is this the dawn of a public mind-body health breakthrough or are we opening a Pandora’s box we can’t close? Let me know what you guys think after you listen to the episode! Dr. Michael Santos is the Senior Vice President of Science Partnerships and Chief Population Mind-body health Science Officer at the Foundation for the NIH. He leads global programs focused on biomedical innovation and well-being equity, and directs theGeneConvene Global Collaboration, which supports informed decision-making around genetic biocontrol technologies like gene drive. Prior to this, he held leadership roles at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and was a Principal at Boston Consulting Group, working across global vitality strategy. Dr. Santos began his career in astronomy and holds a Ph. D. from Caltech. To learn more about GeneConvene, Gene Drive Mosquitoes (and gain access to the infographic discussed in the episode) pleaseclick here. Also check out thisrecent podcaston how to keep your brain ageless! You definitely want to tune in to this one, as cognitive decline is ON the rise! Readmy latest newsletter HERE& Subscribe too! :) Below is a short clip from my Youtube channel on Gene Drive Mosquitoes that you can share with your buddies, and ask them: Would YOU release these mosquitoes into the wild??? It got a lot of attention on my Facebook page when I posted it and wow….reading through the comments, people have a lot of concerns!!!