SEASS - Scoping Study for a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEASS) on the potential operational use of gene drive in the main malaria-carrying Anopheles mosquito species in West Africa on behalf of Target Malaria

Target Malaria isa not-for-profit research consortium that aims to develop and share new, cost-effective, and sustainable genetic technologies to modify mosquitoes and reduce malaria transmission. The intervention which is currently in development by Target Malaria (i.e. a population suppression gene drive) works by reducing the ability of female mosquitoes to reproduce through non-mendelian inheritance of an introduced gene targeting female fertility, thereby supressing the population of malaria transmitting mosquitoes. Currently (2023-2024), the use of gene drive technologies as a public health intervention is still many years away from implementation. Before any possible implementation, the technology would need to be studied in a malaria transmission setting, and subject to relevant regulatory approvals and stakeholder consultations, including potentially Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) or Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessments (ESHIA) in the respective countries and regions. 

The current SEA Scoping Study (SEASS) is conducted because the intervention could fall under national SEA requirements in multiple countries and transboundary regulatory issues need to be established. In addition, it is important to establish whether there may be any potential negative environmental, socio-economic and health risks associated with the potential release of gene drive mosquitoes.

Swiss TPH, together with the University of Liverpool, is conducting the SEASS on behalf of Target Malaria for a potential implementation in 15 countries in West Africa.