Researchers at UWI’s Medical Sciences Faculty have been awarded a €10,000 grant to advance research into diseases from illegally trafficked animals.

Led by Dr Jerome Foster, the team will investigate infectious disease pathogens in both wildlife and livestock brought into Trinidad from the South American mainland.

The study will also address the gap between known and new viral pathogens by comparing what is found in illegally trafficked animals to what is found in local animal species.

The overall goal is to establish sampling and screening protocols.

The grant was awarded by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of South Africa,