Developing new methods to detect tick-borne pathogens
Official title: New tools for tick-borne pathogen surveillance
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-10980560 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new way to quickly and accurately find germs carried by ticks and rodents, which could help us better understand and manage tick-borne diseases that affect people like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | December 8, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $687,043 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI155472-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10980560 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living in areas where tick-borne diseases are prevalent, particularly those who may have been exposed to ticks.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not reside in tick-endemic regions or those who have no history of tick exposure may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving the detection of tick-borne pathogens by utilizing advanced sequencing technologies. It aims to implement a novel dual metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing approach that allows for real-time analysis of various pathogens present in ticks and rodents. By using a portable sequencer and a sophisticated bioinformatics pipeline, the project seeks to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of pathogen surveillance, enabling the identification of multiple pathogens simultaneously. This could lead to better understanding and management of tick-borne diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the early detection and management of tick-borne diseases, leading to better health outcomes for affected patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using advanced sequencing technologies for pathogen detection, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements in the field.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oliver, Jonathan D — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Oliver, Jonathan D
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.