# Optimizing interventions to mitigate schistosomiasis-related morbidity among pregnant women and children

> **NIH NIH K24** · RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL · 2021 · $191,165

## Abstract

Project Summary
 This renewal application for a K24 seeks to continue to provide time for the candidate, Jennifer Friedman,
MD, PhD, to provide mentorship to junior faculty in patient oriented research (POR) with a focus on optimizing
interventions for parasitic diseases among pregnant women and children. The second goal is to provide time
for Dr. Friedman to further her own career development through a) pursuit of advanced education in Structural
Equation Modeling and characterization of the human microbiome and b) leading policy changes to include
pregnant women and young children in treatment programs for schistosomiasis.
 Dr. Friedman proposes to continue to mentor junior faculty and fellows conducting POR at the Center for
International Health Research (CIHR). The Center is an outstanding model for interdisciplinary team science,
where most faculty are physician-scientists and other scientists carry out translational research as an integral
part of these teams. In the first phase of this K24, Dr. Friedman closely mentored five junior faculty at CIHR. Of
these, four were recipients of Career Development Awards with Dr. Friedman as primary or co-mentor and the
other was a target young investigator on a large training grant (Centers for Biomedical Research Excellence
(COBRE)) in infectious diseases. In addition, one mentee (Levine) received his first independent grants (R03
and R01) in 2017 with grant writing mentorship provided by Dr. Friedman.
 The overarching scientific goal of this proposal is to advance studies elucidating mechanisms through
which schistosomiasis contributes to environmental enteropathy, culminating in microbial translocation,
systemic immune activation, and adverse pregnancy and nutritional outcomes. Dr. Friedman has two current
R01s that provide outstanding opportunities for junior faculty to conduct POR in global health. The first is a
longitudinal birth cohort (PIs Friedman, Gundogan) that has already enrolled N=400 pregnant women and is
now following the newborns until age two. The second is a multi-site RCT (PIs Friedman, Bustinduy) examining
optimal dose and dosing frequency of praziquantel for children under the age of four. Both grants provide both
opportunities to conduct field work at sites with longstanding collaborations and will offer a wealth of well
characterized data and samples to address the aims proposed in this K24 as well as other aims conceived of
by mentees. They will also be able to engage in other NIH grants at CIHR with co-mentoring by Dr. Friedman
and other faculty (see letters of support).
 Brown University affiliated hospitals provide a rich source of potential mentees from a range of Divisions
housing junior faculty interested in conducting POR in infectious diseases. In addition, although there are
numerous other training grants at Brown affiliates, there are two T32 awards, two COBRE awards, and one
R25, which could specifically provide a pipeline for young investigators and co-funding in r...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10104426
- **Project number:** 5K24AI112964-07
- **Recipient organization:** RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** JENNIFER F FRIEDMAN
- **Activity code:** K24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $191,165
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2015-02-15 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10104426

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10104426, Optimizing interventions to mitigate schistosomiasis-related morbidity among pregnant women and children (5K24AI112964-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10104426. Licensed CC0.

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