If successful the experiment could lessen the threat of future outbreaks sparking widespread slaughter of flocks and even developing into a human pandemic.
Laurence Tiley, professor of molecular virology at Cambridge University, said in an interview it may be possible in about six years to replace the whole world chicken population of about 35 billion with flu-resistant birds.
That would be too late to impact the current outbreak of the deadly H5N1 strain which has so far led to the slaughter of millions of birds and killed more than 60 people in Asia.
But it may help prevent a future pandemic.
?There would be no point (doing the research) if it was just against this particular virus (H5N1). The strategies we’ve chosen should apply to all avian flu strains," he said.
The research team is led by Tiley and Helen Sang of the Roslin Institute near Edinburgh.
Tiley said the research had a good chance of success and could change attitudes towards genetic modifications.
"I wouldn’t be doing the research if I didn’t think it had a good chance of working," he said.
There has been strong opposition to the use of GMOs in food crops but the clear benefits in this case could help change public opinion, he added.
"The UK is really quite hostile towards GM. I think we could get people to reappraise what GM could offer them," he said, noting initial reaction to his work had been positive.
Tiley said he still, however, expected some opposition and regulatory approvals would be required, a hurdle that has proved difficult to clear for some gene-altered products in the European Union.
Delays could open the door for China, a country with much to gain from eradicating bird flu, to take the lead.
"If we don’t get a move on, I can guarantee that China will just do this. China is extremely pro-GM. They are probably working on it as we speak," Tiley added.