Education

UF researchers develop AI tool to forecast flesh-eating bacteria in coastal waters

University of Florida scientists, backed by a $3.6 million National Institutes of Health grant, are building an AI-powered platform called VIGOR to predict dangerous Vibrio bacteria outbreaks in coastal waters up to three to four weeks in advance. The system will combine satellite data, environmental sensors, and genomic sequencing to identify high-risk conditions tied to factors like sea surface temperature, algal blooms, and hurricane flooding. UF is leading the project in collaboration with the University of Maryland, with the ultimate aim of delivering real-time public health alerts to government agencies and coastal communities.

Sources: UF News