GM-viruses can be employed for different medical applications, such as virotherapy to combat cancer cells, or as vaccines.
In view of these developments, COGEM organizes this international symposium to provide more insight into the current developments and the future applications of viral vaccines, oncolytic viruses and replicons, - amongst which the self-amplifying mRNAs -. Simultaneously, the opportunities, potential risks and implications for biosafety and policy that are associated with these advancements, will be explored.
For research with GMOs, rules are applied to maintain safety for human health and the environment. It is however questionable if the current rules and legislation are still tailored to these new developments. What should policy and politics do to help capitalise the opportunities offered by the new developments, whilst also securing safety for human health and the environment, and strengthening public confidence in these innovations?
The symposium is aimed at policy makers, members of scientific advisory bodies and scientists in the Netherlands and Europe. Participation is free of charge, but registration is required.