Why cholera came back to Haiti and how to prevent it
Official title: Recurrence of Cholera in Haiti: Exploration of Contributing Factors and Intervention Strategies
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11362322 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at cholera bacteria and environmental conditions in Haiti to find what caused the 2022 outbreak and ways to protect communities at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2016 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $748,090 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI126357-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362322 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are people living in or near areas of recent cholera activity in Haiti who can provide stool or environmental samples or join local surveillance efforts.
✕Less likely to help
People who live far from affected regions or who have no exposure to local water systems are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific project.
What this research studies
This project sequences Vibrio cholerae from recent patient cases and from water sources to trace how the bacteria persisted and re-emerged. The team compares those genomes to older Haitian strains and to environmental samples, and combines that with data on weather, water systems, and population movement. Environmental sampling of waterways and genetic analysis are used alongside health records to link bacteria in the environment with human illness. Findings will be used to guide targeted prevention measures such as surveillance, vaccination strategies, and water sanitation improvements.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help target public health actions that prevent future cholera outbreaks and reduce illness and deaths in Haiti and similar coastal regions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous genomic and environmental studies have successfully traced cholera outbreaks and informed public health responses, though linking long-dormant environmental strains to new epidemics is a newer application of these methods.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Morris, John Glenn — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Morris, John Glenn
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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.