# Next-Generation Diagnostics for Acute Encephalitis

> **NIH NIH K08** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2021 · $199,737

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Encephalitis is a heterogeneous syndrome defined by inflammation of the brain parenchyma leading to altered
mental status and frequently, many other neurologic signs and symptoms including seizures, paralysis,
hypoventilation and in some cases, death. Well over 100 viruses, autoantibodies, parasites, bacteria and fungi
cause encephalitis, but in at least half of cases, no etiology is identified. Failure to identify an etiologic agent
delays targeted therapies to patients and leads to empiric treatment trials that are sometimes ineffective and
other times, actually exacerbate the patient's underlying condition.
My goal in seeking a K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award is to acquire
the necessary training, practical experience and knowledge to make major advances in our understanding of
the causes of encephalitis. My long-term goal is to reduce the large number of idiopathic encephalitis cases by
enhancing a novel diagnostic platform. I hypothesize that a novel molecular approach will improve the limits of
detection for microbes in our next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay that aims to detect any class of microbe
in cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue (Subaim 1A). I hypothesize that a novel statistical approach will help to
rigorously discriminate between microbial contamination vs. true infection in the metagenomic data collected
from our NGS assay (Subaim 1B). I will harness these new molecular and analytic approaches to more
frequently and accurately identify pathogens via metagenomic NGS in an ongoing, multicenter, prospective
cohort study of patients with idiopathic encephalitis (Aim 2).
During my self-designed fellowship in Neuro-Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital and
Boston University's National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, I acquired a unique skillset and was
recruited back to UCSF as an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Neurology. I have put together
a world-class team of mentors and advisors to guide me through this career development phase in order to
launch myself successfully as an independent investigator. The research environment at UCSF is exceptional
and includes cutting edge scientists and state-of-the-art equipment in the California Institute of Quantitative
Biosciences (QB3) and the Sandler Neurosciences Building. My training plan is specifically designed to provide
advanced training in clinical research methods, statistics, bioinformatics and microbiology that will be
necessary to actualize these goals and position me to obtain R01 or equivalent funding as an independent
investigator. I also intend to be an active participant in the K-Scholars program.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10077591
- **Project number:** 5K08NS096117-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael R Wilson
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $199,737
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-12-01 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10077591

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10077591, Next-Generation Diagnostics for Acute Encephalitis (5K08NS096117-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10077591. Licensed CC0.

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