Center for Zoonomics
The Center for Zoonomics, based at Zoo New England, integrates conservation and medical genomics to improve human, animal and ecosystem health.
The Center for Zoonomics is a major initiative of Zoo New England's new Department of Conservation Genomics. Formally established in 2021 in collaboration with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, the Center seeks to address challenges in conducting genetic health studies in zoo animal populations to improve animal health.
Many species in zoological care are managed through Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs to maintain genetically diverse populations. Despite the many benefits of applying empirical genetics to advance these aims, genetic research aimed at improving zoo animal population health has been limited. The Center for Zoonomics is dedicated to addressing this gap by building connections between zoo and human health genetics.
As a national resource, the Center for Zoonomics is a catalyst for progress in animal health genetics. One of its key objectives is to standardize, across zoos, the collection, storage and categorization of “biospecimens”—biological materials obtained from animals during routine medical care—to facilitate genetic research that can help us understand and improve animal health.
