Research Interest:
Our medical school is located in southern New Mexico, where the epidemiology and ecology of Valley fever is not well understood, despite the disease being regularly diagnosed in our region. The goals of our research are 1) to document the environmental distribution of Coccidioides posadasii through targeted soil sampling and genomic detection by qPCR, and 2) to develop a better understanding of the exposure rate among the population through serological testing. Ultimately, we aim increase our understanding of Valley fever as a health concern in New Mexico and to expand community awareness and education on the disease.