📋Research Projects📋
Drivers of Viral Diversification
Our research explores viral diversification as the result of evolutionary process by which viruses adapt and generate genetic variation within wild and domestic mammalian hosts. This diversification is driven by several mechanisms and ecological factors. Our study models include hantavirus, papillomavirus, rabies virus, coronavirus, and other virus of veterinary, conservation, and public health concern. Our ultimate goal is to determine the factor that limit or facilitate outbreaks in new regions and species.
Conservation Medicine and One health
We are investigating the causes and consequences of ecosystem health decline, using approaches that account for human dimensions. Using fish and wildlife diseases as response variables we are identifying likely biotic and abiotic factors affecting ecosystem functioning. In this research line we have investigated different infectious pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa, parasitic worms, ticks, fleas, and prions. We are working to understand the geography of fish kills and fish epidemics in marine and freshwater fishes, road kill ecology, and bat-borne, rodent-borne, vector-borne, and water-borne diseases of pandemic potential. Our efforts include the use of satellite-derived data, citizen science, and ecological niche modeling.
Disease-biodiversity relationships
We are exploring the ecosystem services of biodiversity for the reduction of the burden of zoonotic infectious diseases. We are using theory and methods from ecology, evolutionary biology, and epidemiology.
Climate Change and Health
Our current research efforts include the reconstruction of the distribution of infectious diseases under past and future climate change conditions. Our study models include bat-borne rabies across Latin America, vector-borne diseases such as chagas, malaria, lesihmaniasis, and arboviruses in tropical areas across elevational gradients, and water-borne diseases such as cholera across marine ecosystems. Our goal is to develop accurate, biologically sound, and useful forecasts of climate change and infectious diseases.
Risk Mapping
We are particularly interested in developing cross-scale transmission-risk models of infectious diseases based on the global movement of human passengers and products across the sky, land, and oceans. A strong component of our research is to develop studies aiming to predict and prevent the next pandemic and panzootia. We are also applying these methodologies at fine-scale (e.g., movement of boats between lakes) to reconstruct the spread of invasive species in aquatic ecosystems.
Collaborators
Our research benefits from the contributions of an international network of collaborators who bring complementary expertise across fields such as wildlife biology, ecology, and evolution of infectious diseases research. Below is a selection of colleagues from various institutions and countries who actively support and enrich our scientific work.
In The United States
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VA (DWR, The Wildlife Center, VA Dept. Health)
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NY (SUNY Upstate, CUNY, Wildlife Conservation Society)
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KS (University of Kansas)
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MN (University of Minnesota)
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NC (University of North Carolina in Greensboro)
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TN (University of Tennessee)
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ATL (CDC, University of Georgia)
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CA (UC Davis, UC Berkeley)
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TX (University of Texas Health Science Center)
In Brazil
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Brasilia (University of Barsilia)
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Pernambuco (Secretaria de Saude de Recife)
In Ecuador
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Guayaquil (Escuela Politécnica del Litoral)
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Quito (Universidad Internacional SEK)
In Mexico
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Xalapa (Institute of Ecology Inecol)
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Puebla (Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla)
In China
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Beijing (Chinese Academy of Science, Peking University, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences)
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Shenzhen (Sun Yat-sen University)
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Shanghai (Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
In Uruguay
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Montevideo (Ministerio de Ambiente)
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In the United Kingdom
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London (University College of London)
In Colombia
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Bogota (Universidad de La Salle)
In Spain
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Madrid (Universidad Complutense)
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Ciudad Real (Universidad de Castilla-La Man
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Barcelona (IRTA CReSA - Animal Health Research Center)
In Chile
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Santiago (Universidad Andres Bello, Universidad del Desarrollo, Universidad Catolica, Universidad de Chile)
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Temuco (Universidad de La Frontera)
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Chiloé (Wild Chiloe)
In Guatemala
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Guatemala City (Universidad de San Carlos, Universidad del Valle)
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Zacapa (Centro Universitario de Zacapa)
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Peten (Wildlife Conservation Society)
In Georgia
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Tbilisi (National Center for Disease Control and Public Health)
In Denmark
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Aarhus (Aarhus University)
In Australia
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Tasmania (University of Tasmania)
In Thailand
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Bangkok (Kasetsart University)
In Peru
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Lima (Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos)
In Senegal
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Dakar (Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Laboratoire National de l'Élevage et de Recherches Vétérinaire)