# Immunogenetic Determinants of Chlamydia Reinfection and Chlamydia-Associated Infertility in Women

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2021 · $46,036

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 The purpose of this NIH F31-Diversity application is to obtain support for the PI, Kristin Olson, for
mentored research and career development activities within her MD/PhD degree training that will strengthen her
potential to become a successful physician scientist. The project goal is to develop skills in statistical genetics
that will allow the PI to study the influence of immunogenetic determinants on Chlamydia trachomatis (CT)
infection outcomes in women, including methods of genetic data quality control, imputation, multiple testing
corrections, and pathway analyses. The primary objective of the research proposal is to investigate the
immunogenetic determinants of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) reinfection and CT-associated infertility in women.
CT infection is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial infection worldwide, including in the U.S. CT
disproportionately affects women due to the reproductive morbidity it causes. Up to 20% of women experience
reinfection after treatment and inflammation from repeated CT infection episodes can contribute to risk for CT-
associated infertility. It is unknown why some women remain susceptible to CT after treatment, leading to
reinfection, and why some CT infections lead to infertility. This project seeks to determine genetic risk markers
for CT reinfection and CT-related infertility (Aims 1A and 2A), and then utilize complex statistical methods to
predict the immune responses mediated by these genetic markers (Aims 1B and 2B). The central hypothesis is
that genetic factors influence risk for these CT infection outcomes through specific immunological pathways, and
some genetic factors may contribute to both clinical outcomes while others may be unique for only one of the
clinical outcomes. The long-term objective of our research is to understand immunogenetic factors that influence
CT infection outcomes in order to develop strategies for improving prevention and management of CT infection,
such as optimizing chlamydia screening strategies and development of a chlamydia vaccine.
 The proposed training plan for the PI is sponsored by her project co-mentors, Dr. William Geisler and Dr.
Hemant Tiwari. Included in the training plan are experiences that help the PI develop in three major areas: 1)
rigorous research in the CT field, including developing familiarity with the existing CT literature, critically
evaluating published CT studies, principles of scientific integrity and responsible conduct of research, and
methods of rigor and reproducibility; 2) statistical genetics, including methodology and interpretation of results;
and 3) career and professional development, including learning skills in grant writing, journal reviewing,
presenting, and translation of research findings to clinical applications. The overall goal of the training plan is to
provide the PI with a solid foundation for a successful career as a physician scientist, with the ultimate career
goal of leading ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10054194
- **Project number:** 5F31HD094539-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Kristin Marie Olson
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $46,036
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-11-01 → 2021-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10054194

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10054194, Immunogenetic Determinants of Chlamydia Reinfection and Chlamydia-Associated Infertility in Women (5F31HD094539-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10054194. Licensed CC0.

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