Knowledge engagement in gene drive research for malaria control

In response to NASEM, the former minister of health in the Republic of Namibia, Richard Kamwi, emphasizes the importance of knowledge engagement for African expert publics and calls for the early involvement of African scientists and disease control experts in gene drive research. Mshinda and colleagues emphasize that, “unlike cutting-edge molecular biology, semi-field ecological studies and open-field research can be undertaken in any African setting, and constitute an immediate opportunity for malaria-afflicted nations to regain their role as stakeholders, decision-makers and eventual owners of this technology” [9]. [...]Pathway to the Deployment of Gene Drive for Malaria Control in Sub-Saharan Africa describes engagement as “essential to meeting ethical obligations of informed consent, building trust, and gaining acceptance of the research” [16]. Future directions Although the gene drive research community is fully committed to diverse engagement activities and technology co-development, it is not yet clear how knowledge is used by researchers who have the ability to shape the technology’s trajectory and whether research teams are open to a range of eventualities (such as social, political, and ecological challenges; plausibility under real-world conditions; and changing definitions of the problem).