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COP28, the U.N.'s climate conference, kicks off today, and BIO and several members will be in Dubai to discuss the importance of biotech solutions for food security and climate change mitigation. Meanwhile, House members heard about opportunities and threats when it comes to AI in health care and drug development. (590 words, 2 minutes, 57 seconds)
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COP28 begins – here's why biotech should be a focus
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COP28 begins today—here’s how BIO’s participating and what we’re watching. What, when, where, why: COP28, the 28th annual international UN Climate Change gathering, runs November 30 through December 12 in Dubai, bringing together national leaders and a range of stakeholders.
What BIO’s doing: BIO will co-host a panel on “Utilizing Biotechnology for Climate Resilience: Public Policy, Innovation, and Global Impact,” in the Sustainable Agriculture of the Americas Pavilion on December 10. BIO is also partnering with the International Chamber of Commerce for a session on "Reducing Methane for Agriculture" on December 9.
Why it matters: The signatories to the Paris Agreement of 2015 have a lot of work to do to keep planetary warming under 1.5°C and cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. BIO and biotech are ready to help.
Biotech can address climate concerns with low-carbon biofuels and biomaterials; with plants engineered to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or to resist changing weather patterns; and with biologicals that reduce chemical inputs.
But we need supportive policy. A few things would help advance the technology: - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must reconsider its overly restrictive approach to gene editing and the prohibition of genetically modified organisms in organic products.
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must release its guidance on gene-edited plants and finalize improvements to animal regulation.
- FDA and USDA need to streamline regulatory review of gene editing in animals.
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) needs to revisit its Plant-Incorporated Protectants regulations.
- USDA must establish greater regulatory certainty on plant-based biologicals.
- Congress must maintain programs to incentivize production of biofuels and government procurement of biobased products.
Read more about biotech for climate change. |
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Register for BIO Office Hours on FDA Meetings
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If you are meeting with the FDA and drafting meeting packages, register for BIO Office Hours next week on December 6 & 7. Meet with a regulatory expert and get tips on securing an FDA meeting, INTERACT meeting packages, and writing an IND.
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AI for health: House hears about opportunities and threats |
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House members expressed enthusiasm for supporting artificial intelligence to improve health care and discussed regulation to prevent errors and abuse during yesterday’s Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing. Opportunities and threats: AI’s potential for drug development and assistance to doctors was praised by witnesses and lawmakers, including Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY). Concerns included bias, use of poor data, and the threat of other countries using AI for malicious purposes.
AI for AMR: Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) asked about using AI to discover viral phage treatments to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Dr. Christopher Longhurst of UC San Diego said AI is being used to explore new antimicrobials.
AI to enable diversity: Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) noted AI’s benefits for ensuring clinical trial diversity but questioned AI’s role in denying insurance claims. Dr. David Newman-Toker of Johns Hopkins said AI regulation should require better data and called for control of AI used by insurers.
AI to protect patients: Several lawmakers spoke of the need to protect privacy of patient data used by AI. Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) said AI should not use QALYs, a discredited measure of treatment value that discriminates against disabled and old people.
What’s next: Lawmakers promised new legislation impacting AI, including privacy protection, control of QALYs, and insurance coverage decisions.
Watch the highlights:
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President Biden’s Thursday: Welcoming Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço to the White House, where they're expected to discuss bilateral cooperation on trade, investment, climate, and energy. He'll then attend the National Christmas Tree Lighting. While he will not attend COP28, Vice President Kamala Harris will be there, along with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Special Climate Envoy John Kerry, and others.
What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: Mandy Cohen, M.D., MPH, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will appear before the House Energy and Commerce Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee. |
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