Martina Ferraguti

My research focuses on understanding how infectious diseases are transmitted between animals, vectors and humans, particularly those transmitted by mosquitoes. I study how factors such as climate, the environment, biodiversity and changes in animal and vector populations can either facilitate or limit the transmission of pathogens.

To this end, I combine fieldwork, laboratory analysis and epidemiological modelling, integrating data on mosquitoes, birds and pathogens. Throughout my career, I have worked at various national and international institutions, specialising in diseases such as West Nile virus, Usutu virus and avian malaria, as well as in the surveillance of other emerging pathogens, such as avian influenza.

I am currently a Senior Researcher at the CSIC in the Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change at the Doñana Biological Station, where I lead my own research programme on the eco-epidemiology of emerging diseases. My aim is to understand and anticipate how global change may alter the risk of disease emergence and transmission, and to contribute to improving disease surveillance, prevention and early warning systems.

A significant part of my work involves communicating this knowledge to the public and government bodies, providing scientific evidence to help identify risk situations and make better decisions to protect human, animal and environmental health, following a One Health approach.