Investigating the risks of chronic wasting disease transmission to humans
Official title: Redefining the zoonotic potential of chronic wasting disease
Funded at University of Calgary · NIH-11092001 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into chronic wasting disease, which affects deer and elk, to see if it could be a risk to humans by testing it on monkeys and mice, so we can better understand if it might pose any health threats to people in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Calgary NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Calgary, Canada) |
| Project start | June 1, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $270,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS121016-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11092001 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who consume venison or are involved in hunting deer and elk.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not consume venison or have no exposure to CWD-infected animals may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on chronic wasting disease (CWD), a prion disease affecting deer, elk, and moose, and its potential risks to human health. The study involves examining the transmission of CWD to non-human primates and mice to understand its zoonotic potential. Researchers will analyze clinical signs and brain changes in these models to assess whether CWD could pose a threat to humans, despite no documented cases of transmission so far. The approach includes various inoculation methods and detailed brain tissue analysis to uncover any subtle effects of the disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide critical insights into the safety of consuming venison and inform public health guidelines regarding CWD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research on prion diseases has shown varying degrees of success in understanding zoonotic transmission, but the specific investigation of CWD's potential is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Calgary
Calgary, Canada Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schatzl, Hermann M — University of Calgary
- Study coordinator: Schatzl, Hermann M
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.