**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** IN SEPTEMBER 2022, THE GENOME-EDITED MICROBIAL WORKSHOP/CONFERENCE SERIES WAS FIRST HELD IN WASHINGTON, D.C. BY CERSA. SINCE THEN, IT HAS MET TWO MORE TIMES IN JUNE 2023 (IN-PERSON) AND NOVEMBER 2023 (VIRTUALLY). THE FIRST WORKSHOP DISCUSSED CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS RELEVANT TO GENOME-EDITED MICROBIAL REGULATION AND PROVIDE DIRECTION FOR STAKEHOLDERS IN THE REGULATORY SPACE.THE GOAL OF THE FIRST WORKSHOP WAS TO DISCUSS ISSUES AND CONCERNS RELATED TO GENOME-EDITED MICROBIAL REGULATION AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR REGULATORY STAKEHOLDERS. DURING THIS MEETING, MEMBERS OF INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, AND ACADEMIC EXPERTS DISCUSSED CONCERNS RELATED TO THE REGULATION OF GENOME-EDITED MICROBIAL PRODUCTS. THE GROUP DEVELOPED A CONSENSUS STATEMENT TO REPRESENT THEIR COLLECTIVE VIEWPOINTS ON THE MATTER, WHICH WAS THEN SHARED WITHIN THEIR NETWORKS AND USED TO GUIDE FURTHER EXPLORATION IN THIS AREA.USING THE CONSENSUS STATEMENT AS A STARTING POINT, CERSA CREATED A FRAMEWORK FOR THE SECOND MEETING IN JUNE 2023. PARTICIPANTS DISCUSSED ONGOING CONCERNS IN GENOME-EDITED MICROBIAL REGULATION AND DEVELOPED AN OUTLINE OF THE TOPICS THAT WERE DISCUSSED DURING THE MEETING. THE GROUP ALSO DISCUSSED WAYS TO CREATE A MORE TRANSPARENT AND EFFICIENT REGULATORY BODY AND IDENTIFIED WHO ELSE NEEDED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE CONVERSATION TO ACHIEVE THIS. WE WILL BUILD ON THESE SUGGESTIONS WHEN WE DEVELOP OUR INVITEE LIST FOR THIS CONFERENCE.AFTER THE SECOND MEETING, SIX WORKING GROUPS WERE FORMED TO FOCUS ON QUESTIONS DISCUSSED DURING THE MEETING. THESE GROUPS MET VIRTUALLY IN NOVEMBER 2023 TO UPDATE THE LARGER GROUP ON THEIR PROGRESS. AT THAT TIME, AREAS OF FOCUS, RESEARCH TOPICS TO EXPLORE, AND NEXT STEPS CONCERNING REGULATORY MATTERS WERE IDENTIFIED. THE FULL VIDEO OF THIS MEETING IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT CERSA'S WEBSITE. THIS CONFERENCE GRANT PROPOSAL IS REQUESTING FUNDS TO SUPPORT A 3RD IN-PERSON CONFERENCE TO FURTHER THE CONVERSATION THAT WAS STARTED IN SEPTEMBER 2022.IN OUR LAST GROUP MEETING IT WAS AGREED THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF GAPS IN OUR COLLECTIVE KNOWLEDGE THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO SEE ADDRESSED IN ADVANCE OF THE NEXT MEETING. AS SUCH, WE WILL COMPLETE A LITERATURE REVIEW TO BE SHARED WITH THE INVITEES AND PARTICIPANTS OF OUR NEXT CONFERENCE. ONCE THE LITERATURE REVIEW IS COMPLETE, WE WILL SHARE IT WITH THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE CONFERENCE WE ARE NOW PLANNING TO HOST.