Chagas' Disease Research
PIs: Dr. Norman Beatty, MD, FACP, Dr. Gabriela Hamerlinck, Ph.D., Nick Keiser
Co-Leader: Abigail Pope
Involved departments: UF Biology, UF Geography, Emerging Pathogens Institue
About
Since Spring 2024, I have been working with Abigail Pope to collect triatomine species bugs in the Alachua area. It is our hope that by documenting the geographical and climatological conditions throughout our fieldwork, a pattern will emerge that can help explain the life habits of these bugs. The bugs transmit Chagas' Disease, a neglected tropical disease of growing concern in the United States. The responsibilities of this project have so far been related to organizing and completing fieldwork, but there are future plans to analyze the specimens in lab. ​
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Chan and I after collected a triatomine bug on a residential complex in west Alachua.