The ArmBioClimate project—funded by APPEAR and uniting Armenian and Austrian institutions—continues to strengthen Armenia’s ability to tackle biodiversity loss, zoonotic disease, and climate change.
A key milestone is the creation of an interdisciplinary Master’s Programme in Environmental Protection and Biosecurity at Yerevan State University (YSU). Developed with input from the Zoology, Botany, and Ecology departments and evaluated by Dr. Gábor Mészáros (BOKU Vienna), the program emphasizes genomics, One Health, and applied fieldwork. It is set to launch in 2025 pending final approval.
Preparations are also complete for the “One Health – Human-Wildlife Interaction” Summer School in spring 2025, which will offer students hands-on experience in zoonotic risk management and conservation.
The project supports academic mobility and early-career research. Iuliia Nosulia, a PhD fellow at Vetmeduni Vienna, is studying golden jackals as potential vectors of zoonotic parasites. Fieldwork in Armenia has already begun.
Scientific findings include:
• Infections with Mesocestoides, Trichinella, and Dirofilaria in jackals and dogs
• Ongoing molecular analysis of parasite and wildlife samples
• A golden jackal reference genome and SNP panel under development
• Climate-based Species Distribution Models forecasting habitat changes
The project’s research has gained international visibility, with publications in Annals of Parasitology and Zoologia. Over 15 Armenian researchers have been trained in modern lab techniques, supported by new infrastructure like a wildlife dissection lab and a Real-Time PCR system.
ArmBioClimate continues to build the scientific foundation for a more resilient Armenia—connecting biodiversity, public health, and climate science.
