Patrizio Feliziani

I am Patrizio Feliziani, a wildlife biologist and PhD researcher at Bangor University within the NERC RED-ALERT Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT). I hold an MSc in Wildlife Biology and Conservation from Edinburgh Napier University and a First-Class BSc in Natural Sciences from Sapienza University of Rome.

I have always been deeply fascinated by freshwater ecosystems and their fundamental role in maintaining global biodiversity. My research project, Salmonid Disease Omics (SalDiOmics), focuses on the development of a multi-species molecular toolkit capable of non-invasively detecting and monitoring both salmonid populations and their associated pathogens within freshwater ecosystems using environmental DNA and RNA (collectively referred to as eNA). The primary aim of the project is to develop novel tools for salmonid disease surveillance and to improve our understanding of the spatial and temporal distribution of pathogens that may influence salmonid survival and conservation.

I am particularly fascinated by the potential of environmental nucleic acid approaches, which I consider to be an innovative and transformative tool for biodiversity monitoring and conservation. These approaches enable the collection of biological information without the need to capture, handle, or disturb organisms. By simultaneously monitoring salmonids and their associated pathogens, the project aims to provide valuable insights into the health status of fish populations and to support evidence-based management and conservation strategies.