Work Groups

Fulfilling our ‘Problem-to-Pitch in One Meeting’ workshop strategy, six hours were dedicated to active problem-solving within working groups. Participants were divided into three cross-disciplinary teams to develop innovative project pitches for presentation to a panel of ‘mock’ funders. These groups reflected the key focus areas of the meeting:

1. Reprogramming across taxa
2. Producing gametes (sperm and eggs) from stem cells 
3. Modeling wildlife disease

Each working group was tasked with developing a single big idea to solve a significant challenge in wildlife conservation using advances in stem cell technology. On-going virtual meetings will enable these teams to continue refining these ideas.

“The Ark”

 

 

 

 

 

From our reprogramming work-group, came the provision of a universal reprogramming kit to biobanks all over the world, with a focus on developing in-country expertise and supporting local needs. 

“One Assay To Define Them All”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our IVG team proposed to take advantage of high-throughput transcription factor screening developed in industry to induce differentiation to primordial germ cells for any species.

Zoo-On-A-Chip for Biosurveillance

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our disease modeling group identified organ-on-a-chip technology as a potential way to predict novel pathogens and explore the impact of wildlife disease for avian species and corals.

Funding Panel

Hand-selected for their ‘funding lens’, our Panel provided critical feedback for each team. This feedback was the first crucial step to refining these projects.

• Owain Edwards, CSIRO 
• Pae Wu, Indiebio 
• Bridget Baumgartner, Revive & Restore 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Future Directions

A key outcome of the workshop has been the formation of a consortium of people, engaged and committed to drive this work forward. Already, a number of publications are being discussed and we are exploring funding opportunities for the projects that have come out of the event. As we communicate the importance of stem cell research in diverse species, we plan to expand our community and continue to break down barriers to entry. 

This is an exciting time in conservation when the private sector for industries such as cellular agriculture, longevity research, pharmaceuticals, and bio-monitoring intersect with the development of stem cell technologies for non-model species. For the first time in conservation, new funding opportunities are emerging, and our consortium is well-positioned and influential. 

Not only was this the first scientific conference in history to focus on stem cell technology for wildlife conservation, it was unique in the broad and interdisciplinary array of individuals present. 

We assembled a group from across adjacent stem cell industries and put them in a room with the zoo community, scientists, veterinarians and reproductive biologists. Then we asked them all to solve some of the biggest problems in conservation and commit to advancing this field. The response from our participants has been overwhelmingly positive. Already, it is clear that the ideas and collaborations beginning to emerge from this meeting will shape the way we approach conservation for years to come. 

Workshop participants

Reprogramming Working Group 

In Vitro Gametogenesis Working Group 

Disease Modeling Working Group 

Mock Funding Panel