# Developing powerful daisy drive systems for the precise alteration of local populations

> **NIH NIH DP2** · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · 2020 · $162,875

## Abstract

Project Summary and Relevance
 Gene drive systems could solve ecological problems by altering entire populations of wild
organisms. However, the self-sustaining nature of current CRISPR-based drive systems makes them
likely to spread to most local populations, and very possibly to other populations of that species
elsewhere in the world. Without a means of safe testing or securing international agreement prior to
deployment, it is unclear how these types of gene drive systems can be ethically released. This proposal
seeks to develop “daisy drive” systems capable of precisely and economically altering local populations
of wild organisms. Specifically, the project will develop ways of reducing the fitness cost of both
alteration and suppression drive systems, precisely controlling the extent to which they will spread,
and perfectly reversing genetic changes spread by other types of CRISPR-based drive systems.
 By providing a path to community-supported, diplomatically feasible, and economical
deployment, this proposal will facilitate the prevention of numerous vector-borne and parasitic
diseases by spreading disease resistance among vectors or directly suppressing populations of disease
agents. We anticipate that daisy drive interventions will serve as powerful weapons suitable for
combating malaria, schistosomiasis, dengue, Zika, Lyme disease, and many more.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10085329
- **Project number:** 3DP2AI136597-01S1
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** Kevin Esvelt
- **Activity code:** DP2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $162,875
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10085329

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10085329, Developing powerful daisy drive systems for the precise alteration of local populations (3DP2AI136597-01S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10085329. Licensed CC0.

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