Experts Guide

Martin is widely regarded as a pioneer and global leader in ecological immunology and disease ecology. His current work centers on the house sparrow, one of the world’s most widespread bird species. Collaborating with international colleagues, Martin studies the endocrine and immune systems of both native and introduced sparrow populations. His team also examines how stress shapes the spread of zoonotic diseases like West Nile virus and how body size influences immune system structure in mammals. His latest grant supports research into how natural environmental changes affect the immune systems of small mammals that carry the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease.