Our story
Ayyalon Cave, Israel
Photo by Anton Levanov
If water means life, groundwater is the precious but fragile scaffolding of our planet, as it provides the most abundant but oversighted unfrozen freshwater reservoir on Earth.
Importantly, groundwater ecosystems also host a myriad of species that play a crucial role in preserving the integrity of the global water cycle through their biological cycles. Nonetheless, current knowledge on groundwater biodiversity and ecological dynamics at global scale is far from being complete, resulting in groundwater ecosystems not being effectively assessed nor protected. As a result of this blind approach, groundwater species are being increasingly exposed to multi-layered threats such as contamination, over-extraction and climate change, with the ultimate risk to compromise the vast number of ecosystems services that groundwaters provide.
The Global Research on eDNA in Groundwaters (GReG) aims to globally assess subterranean aquatic diversity and related ecological dynamics via environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches, significantly contributing to advancing our understanding on the importance, functions and services of groundwater ecosystems on Earth.
GReG was initially pitched during the last International Conference on Subterranean Biology held in Sardinia in September 2024. Nine months after, the 5th of June 2025 saw the birth of GReG via an on-line seminar that gathered 52 researchers across four continents, and organised by Dr Mattia Saccò - a Lecturer and leader of the Subterranean Research and Groundwater Ecology (SuRGE) Group at Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) Lab, Curtin University - in partnership with Dr Michelle Guzik (Adelaide University) and Dr Kathryn Korbel (University of Sydney).
The value of this research is emphasised by the alignment of GReG to the United Nations “Sustainable Development Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”.
Meet GReG
We are an international consortium of groundwater experts, researchers, practitioners, regulators, and stakeholders. Collectively we aim to advance groundwater research with environmental DNA to highlight ecological vulnerability and promote conservation management.
The 80 researchers directly involved in the current project represent 32 institutions from 19 countries from Europe, Australia, North America, Africa, and Asia.
Our team
Dr Mattia Saccò
Co-lead
Curtin University
I am the leader of the Subterranean Research and Groundwater Ecology (SuRGE) Group, a research team with a strong focus on interdisciplinary approaches. By combining molecular techniques with biogeochemical tools, we strive to expand the understanding of subterranean ecology patterns, with the main goal of improving groundwater management and conservation. Key to our work is the continued collaboration with a strong international network of research partners in academia and beyond.
Dr Kathryn Korbel
Co-lead
University of Sydney
I lead the River and Groundwater Ecology Lab, a team advancing research on groundwater dependent ecosystems. By integrating eDNA tools with traditional sampling and ecotoxicology experiments, we aim to deepen understand of these ecosystems and investigate human impacts. Our multimetric monitoring frameworks are used to assess groundwater health, and provide advice for governments and industry on groundwater management. We collaborate globally in an effort to protect these vital ecosystems.
Dr Michelle Guzik
Co-lead
Adelaide University
Alongside my team, I am designing environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding tools to detect subterranean fauna living in groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDE). Our work is internationally recognised as the new benchmark in GDE biomonitoring and is being implemented by researchers, industry, regulators and environmental stakeholders. Our research delivers positive economic and environmental outcomes while advancing scientific understanding of these unique ecosystems.
Abdul Elmasri
Project Manager
Curtin University
I’m a Laboratory Technician with a distinct interest in all things regarding environmental conservation. After completing Certificates 3, 4 and a Diploma in Laboratory Operations, I joined eDNA Frontiers and then TrEnD labs at Curtin University in 2023. I have since provided technical and administrative support to my lab teams on a variety of projects and enjoy participating in works that have a beneficial environmental impact most of all.
Jake Thornhill
Research Assistant
Adelaide University
I am a PhD candidate based in Adelaide, with interests in stygofauna systematics and groundwater conservation. Focusing on a highly biodiverse but vulnerable groundwater ecosystem in Western Australia, my research aims to develop taxonomy-independent eDNA analyses to identify and characterise impacts on groundwater communities, with the goal of advancing biomonitoring approaches.
Mahima Tawal
Research Assistant
Curtin University
I’m a PhD candidate at Curtin University with a background in biotechnology and conservation biology. My research focuses on groundwater ecosystems in the Pilbara region, aiming to understand their functional dynamics using molecular techniques, stable isotope analysis, and fatty acid profiling of stygofaunal communities.
The project
Phase 1 (June 2025 - June 2026): The first global eDNA study of groundwaters.
Documenting 47 high-profile groundwater sites from 19 countries across Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa, and North America through standardized eDNA sampling and analytical protocols targeting the entire Tree of Life.
Phase 1 will also see publications based on shared expertise and challenges in the field of groundwater eDNA and development of international grant applications that will allow us to be more inclusive of the Global South.
Vision for the future
Phase 2 (from June 2026): Expansion of GReG to include underrepresented global regions.
From the lessons learned and interest generated in Phase 1, the next step will be to expand the project beyond developed countries to include the Global South and other under-investigated areas of the world via participatory science approaches.
GReG's collaborative partners
Partner institutions
Research projects
Research labs
Global datasets
