Congratulations to Dr. Michael Phelps, who has been awarded a $649,094 USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Program (BRAG) grant to lead research evaluating potential environmental risks associated with gene-edited rainbow trout.
As gene-edited fish move closer to commercial production in several countries, this project will generate critical scientific data to help inform future regulatory and policy decisions in the United States. The research will examine behavioral interactions with native fish, swimming performance under different environmental conditions, and growth responses under varying food availability.
The study focuses on rainbow trout carrying a targeted edit to the myostatin gene, a genetic pathway associated with muscle growth. Findings will help provide regulators and policymakers with science-based information needed to assess potential ecological impacts and support informed decision-making regarding emerging aquaculture technologies.
Congratulations to Dr. Phelps and the research team on this important achievement!