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.

PROJECT NARRATIVE Genome editing is a type of genetic engineering platform that allows for changes or “edits” into DNA with great specificity and precision. It is revolutionizing biology and therapeutic development at a rapid rate. Therefore, this Keystone Symposia conference will bring together scientists from academia and biopharma, including regulators and ethicists, along with those who have studied natural genome editing systems and natural DNA damage repair, to develop novel genome editing systems and accelerate the latest advances in the field.