Why forest conservation is also public health

April 2026

A new study from Madagascar provides the first complete mitochondrial genomes for two endemic tuft-tailed rats, offering a clearer baseline for identifying and tracking native rodent species.

Hidden viruses in Madagascar wildlife reveal new clues to evolution

April 2026

ASU-led research uncovers hundreds of unknown viruses in lemurs and other animals, offering rare insight into how species and viruses evolve together

Mandai Nature call for living samples of Southeast Asian Wild Pigs

January 2026

Mandai Nature announced a need to biobank biospecimens from Southeast Asian wild pigs vulnerable to African Swine Fever. The effort aims to preserve genetic diversity by banking tissues and cells, with the long-term goal of generating iPSCs for research. Contact Nicole Tay at nicole.tay@mandai.org.sg for more information, and read full Statement of Need HERE .

Center for Zoonomics collaborates with Darwin’s Ark to test fur-based sequencing for conservation

SEPTEMBER 2025

The Center for Zoonomics is working with Darwin’s Ark to learn whether state of the art fur-based DNA sequencing can be used as a non-invasive way to study population health for wildlife conservation.

The Center for Zoonomics is working with Darwin’s Ark to learn whether state of the art fur-based DNA sequencing can be used as a non-invasive way to study population health for wildlife conservation.

Zoo New England receives a competitive grant to support genomics research

October 2024

Zoo New England received a three year grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ (IMLS) National Leadership. This grant, which is allotted over a three-year period, will support Center for Zoonomics, which aims to build capacity for zoos to use next generation genomics research to study and improve the health of animal populations in zoo care.

Center for Zoonomics is highlighted in AZA Connect

February 2024

The development of the Center for Zoonomics was highlighted in an AZA Connect article discussing the vital role of scientific research in zoo animal health. The article describes how zoo veterinarians and technicians play an important role in research.

Zoo New England’s meerkat research is featured in The Atlantic

May 2024

The Atlantic spotlights the Center for Zoonomics’ ongoing research of the genetic underpinnings of heart disease in meerkats. The prominence of heart disease in the AZA meerkat population is expected to be hereditary, and researchers affiliated with the Center for Zoonomics are using genome sequencing to understand how genetic diversity may be related to heart health in these animals.