# New York City Virus Hunters - A Community Science Initiative

> **NIH NIH R25** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2024 · $265,309

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
We aim to increase student’s understanding and interest in science through active participation in the first large-
scale surveillance initiative targeting avian viruses like influenza viruses (AIV) and avian paramyxoviruses
(APMV, also known as Newcastle disease virus) ever conducted in an urban area - New York City (NYC) - via
analysis of bird droppings. The New York City Virus Hunters (NYCVH) initiative will enable teachers, students
and interested community members to gain an understanding of the interaction of natural environments and
human health, while increasing their knowledge, confidence, and interest in science.
The NYCVH initiative will build on strong collaborations between the Krammer Laboratory at the Icahn School of
Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), a globally leading laboratory in virology, and BioBus, a leading NYC science
outreach and education institution. NYCVH will develop and provide all the training, equipment, materials, and
infrastructure needed to support this large-scale, community-science-driven research effort. NYCVH will be
designed to offer multiple entry points and levels of engagement for interested community scientists - such as
students, teachers or community members - to participate. Trainings will ensure that interested teachers gain an
understanding of modern viral surveillance techniques and have ways to easily incorporate NYCVH program
aspects of their choice into their work. Over the course of the program, 6000 middle and high school students
will be led by 100 teachers trained at workshops held at BioBus’s BioBase Harlem inside Columbia University’s
Zuckerman Institute. Workshops will introduce teachers to modern viral surveillance using molecular techniques,
experimental design, laboratory and bioinformatics methods, sampling kit components, and detail how teachers
and students can participate in research to prevent the next pandemic. Through BioBus’ network we will enlist
partner schools to broaden participation in the program including through large-scale sampling events. In
addition, and importantly, 25 high school students from historically underrepresented communities in science will
be trained to spearhead the initiative as Junior Research Scientists who will join the NYCVH as interns over the
academic year and get an intensive training in sampling, nucleic acid detection, sequencing, phylogenetic
analysis and virology in general to become the next generation of leading virologists. With ISMMS, BioBus and
plus a network of scientists from academic institutions and wildlife rehabilitators, those students will be supported
throughout their research process – study design, sample collection, sample processing, analyzing results, and
presenting their research at symposia.
This project will be evaluated using a mixed-methods approach tailored to understanding the impact of program
participation on all individuals. The structure of this program is designed to determine the feasibility an...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10927260
- **Project number:** 5R25GM150146-02
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** Florian Krammer
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $265,309
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-11 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10927260

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10927260, New York City Virus Hunters - A Community Science Initiative (5R25GM150146-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10927260. Licensed CC0.

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