Nnomzie Charles Atama

Experienced PhD Fellow in Molecular Virology specializing in wildlife and zoonotic virus surveillance and outbreak response. Proficient in RNA/DNA techniques and serological assays, and skilled at analyzing and interpreting complex data. Expertise lies in applying One Health approaches to wildlife disease ecology, specifically in the areas of vector-borne and avian influenza viruses. Committed to advancing public health and gaining a deeper understanding of infectious disease dynamics. Dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the field of virology.

• 2021, KNAW Ecology Fund. Project: 'Investigation on the role of resident and migrant bird species in the transmission of West Nile virus and Usutu virus across bird populations in Nigeria'. Grant funded fieldwork and wet lab (worth €5000).
• 2019, EcohealthNet 2.0 Sponsorship Award - Ecohealth Alliance NY. Travel and living allowance to attend EcoHealthNet workshop on 'Emerging Threats to Global Health' at George Mason University, Fairfax Virginia, USA.
• 2019, Thriplow Charitable Trust Travel grant. Travel cost to attend 'Intervention in Wild Health' course at Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, India.
• 2017, Commonwealth Scholarship Award. Covering full tuition and research expenses for MVetSc degree in Conservation Medicine.
• 2014, Leventis Foundation Masters Scholarship. Covering full tuition, accommodation, research expenses and stipend for MSc Conservation Biology degree.

• 2024, Presence of West Nile virus neutralizing antibodies in Dutch rodent species., Manuscript in preparation
• 2024, Sentinel chicken surveillance reveals previously undetected circulation of West Nile virus in the Netherlands., Emerg Microbes Infect., 12/31/24, 13(1)
• 2022, Evaluation of the use of alternative sample types for mosquito-borne flavivirus surveillance: Using Usutu virus as a model., One Health., 12/01/22, 15
• 2021, Operationalizing the ECOWAS regional one health coordination mechanism (2016–2019): Scoping review on progress, challenges and way forward., One Health., 12/01/21, 13:100291
• 2019, Survey of Hepatocystis parasites of fruit bats in the Amurum forest reserve, Nigeria, identifies first host record for Rousettus aegyptiacus., Parasitology., 10/01/19, 146(12):1550-1554

• 2024, One health innovative sampling to understand the ecology and spread of Usutu virus and West Nile virus in the Netherlands, European Wildlife Disease Association Conference (EWDA 2024), Stralsund, Germany, Oral
• 2024, Arboviruses and Influenza virus in wild birds at wintering locations in Nigeria, 8th World One Health Congress (WOHC), Cape Town, South Africa, Poster
• 2023, Backyard and petting zoo chickens as sentinels for West Nile virus and Usutu virus circulation in the Netherlands, 10th European Meeting on Viral Zoonoses, St. Raphael, France, Oral