Rebecca French

In their New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship, Dr Rebecca French will use tissue collected from kiore Polynesian, ship, and Norway rats caught in community-trapping initiatives and analyse the genomes of the viruses they carry. Rats are often reservoirs for zoonotic diseases that jump between animals and humans. Despite this, we know almost nothing about the viruses carried by the rat species living in Aotearoa New Zealand, or if they present a threat to other species, including humans.

Dr French will assess whether these viruses could jump between hosts and whether ecological disruption (for example, due to climate change or changes in land use) might contribute to the risk of host-jumping. This research will enhance our understanding of zoonotic disease risks and provide insights into viral ecology and evolution.