How environmental factors influence harmful parasites in coastal areas
Official title: Environmental forces shape the ecology of virulent parasites in coastal ecosystems
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11059728 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how changes in the environment affect harmful parasites that can make southern sea otters sick, helping us understand how these parasites move from land to the ocean and what makes them more dangerous.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $663,306 |
| NIH project number | 1R01GM157739-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11059728 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research include marine mammal conservationists, veterinarians, and wildlife biologists focused on the health of species like southern sea otters.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not involved in marine biology or wildlife conservation may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how environmental conditions affect the behavior and survival of harmful parasites that can infect marine mammals, particularly focusing on southern sea otters. By examining the journey of these parasites from their land-based hosts to marine environments, the study aims to understand the factors that influence their virulence and distribution. Using advanced Bayesian modeling techniques, the research will analyze diverse datasets to explore the relationship between land-sea environmental forces and the genetic characteristics of these parasites. This could provide insights into how climate and ecological changes impact disease dynamics in coastal ecosystems.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better management strategies for protecting marine mammals from harmful infections.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been limited research on the ecological dynamics of these specific parasites, the use of Bayesian modeling in ecological studies has shown promise in other contexts.
Where this research is happening
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University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shapiro, Karen — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Shapiro, Karen
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.