# Center for Applied Immunology and Pathological Processes

> **NIH NIH P20** · LOUISIANA STATE UNIV HSC SHREVEPORT · 2021 · $2,150,395

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 A properly functioning and effective immune system is needed to control infection by bacterial, viral and
other pathogen invaders, growth of aberrant cells, as well as for proper embryonic development, wound healing,
bone remodeling, and other normal homeostatic processes. Thus, understanding the innate and adaptive
immune responses and how abnormalities affect human health in chronic inflammatory conditions, during
neonatal development and how infectious diseases and cancers subvert or alter these responses is critical to
improving our health, not only in the United States, but globally. Closer to home, this unfortunately remains
especially true in the state of Louisiana, which ranks near the bottom in many national health studies. For
example, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) age adjusted deaths in the state are more than double the
national average, while the state ranks in the top 5 in infections with the sexually transmitted diseases, Syphilis,
Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. In addition, as is documented for many states in the south, Louisiana has some of
the highest rates of arthritis (affecting ~1 in 4 adults in the state), heart disease and cardiovascular deaths
(ranked 46/50 and 48/50 respectively), and cancer-related mortality rates (15-20% higher than the national
average) in the nation. These glaring statistics support the need for additional understanding of the pathogenesis
of these diseases and new options for therapeutic interventions. One common theme among these different
diseases is an aberrant immune response and resulting immunopathologies. Thus, we propose a better
understanding of how aberrations in the immune system result in disease is needed. We propose that a targeted
growth of an immunology-centric center on our campus at LSUHSC-S will positively influence the health of our
citizens. This is especially true as new research shows targeted modifications of the immune response or
immunotherapy holds great promise as an effective treatment option to control and eradicate various tumors, for
the treatment and mitigation of antibiotic or antiviral resistant infectious diseases, and for the prevention of
chronic inflammatory diseases, etc.
 Diverse research into aspects of immunology, host pathogen interactions, and the immunopathology
associated with an abnormal immune response is an important priority at LSU Health Sciences Center
Shreveport (LSUHSC-S) within multiple centers and departments. Immunology as a discipline can effectively
bridge many centers and departments currently on campus and thus serve as a nucleus for collaborative and
synergistic research across diverse disciplines. Immunology as a discipline is now at the forefront of novel
therapies to control bacterial infections, viral infections, to treat cancer; thus an expansion and growth of this
area at LSUHSC-S will advance the mission of the school to grow basic science that has strong translational
potential. The objective of this new C...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10090768
- **Project number:** 1P20GM134974-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** LOUISIANA STATE UNIV HSC SHREVEPORT
- **Principal Investigator:** ANDREW D YUROCHKO
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $2,150,395
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-03-01 → 2026-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10090768

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10090768, Center for Applied Immunology and Pathological Processes (1P20GM134974-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10090768. Licensed CC0.

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