Congratulations to 2022 CREID Pilot Awardee Ohnmar Aung

Dr. Ohnmar Aung (right), with mentor Dr. Tierra Smiley Evans (center) and researcher Dr. Chee Wah Tan (left). Photo credit: Nicole Gardner

Investigation of ecological drivers of sarbecovirus spillover in Myanmar and Nepal

Dr. Ohnmar Aung, recipient of a 2022 CREID Pilot Award, will soon begin her study to investigate the ecological drivers of sarbecovirus spillover from wildlife to humans. Focusing on integrating molecular, serological, and behavioral epidemiological approaches, Ohnmar will investigate spillover in at-risk human populations to improve our understanding of when this is occurring and which activities could be targeted for mitigation efforts. Specifically, this project seeks to investigate immune reactivity to a range of SARS-related viruses in human cohorts with frequent interaction with bats, conduct epidemiological risk factor analyses to understand behaviors and interactions facilitating spillover, and evaluate sarbecovirus exposure in bats sampled concurrently with human cohorts. Ohnmar will work closely with EpiCenter investigators and mentors, as well as her collaborators at DUKE-NUS Singapore, the Center for Molecular Dynamics Nepal, and the Nature Conservation Society Myanmar to advance this important work.