Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
The Geological Survey funds a Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit partner to develop a gene expression panel that distinguishes stressors affecting wildlife and ecosystem health.
Funder: U.S. Geological Survey
Due Dates: November 14, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $35,000 estimated total over five years; $7,000 estimated for Year 1; one award anticipated
Summary: Supports development of an enhanced gene expression panel to distinguish stressors affecting wildlife population and ecosystem health.
Key Information: Only participating partners of the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit are eligible.
Description
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) offers this cooperative agreement to develop an enhanced gene expression panel capable of distinguishing among stressors affecting population and ecosystem health. Focal species include Californian sea lions, sea otters, salmon, longfin smelt, mussels, and clams. The research will support ecosystem monitoring, management decisions, early warning systems, and ecosystem recovery.
The project builds on a One Health approach linking human, wildlife, and environmental health, with immune function informing assessments of susceptibility and resilience. Research objectives include multispecies field experiments involving thermal, pathogen, nutritional, or toxin stressors; RNA isolation from experimental and control organisms; RNA-seq transcriptome or qPCR analysis; and identification of highly differentiated target genes. Priorities include ecosystem resilience, restoration, public health preparedness, and scientific integrity.
