# Training in Mechanisms of Parasitism

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 2022 · $404,792

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The Mechanisms of Parasitism training program has been an ongoing program at the University of Iowa for 24
sequential years. The program unites scientists working on different microbial systems and methods, but
addressing similar questions about “Parasitism”, i.e. the pathogenesis of microbial diseases. Our underlying
hypothesis is that protozoal, helminthic, bacterial, and viral pathogens face similar obstacles in overcoming
mammalian antimicrobial defenses, establishing a niche in which they coexist asymptomatic in their host, or lead
to pathologic conditions (i.e., disease). Our premise is that the mechanisms through which one pathogen evades
killing within the host provides insights into means through which other pathogens survive in their unique host
niche. Most definitely the methods used to investigate host interactions with different hosts overlap. There is a
long history of collaborative research and training among many laboratories at the University of Iowa, and
specifically particularly between members of this Parasitism program. With this new application, we have
expanded our horizons to meet the growing need for collaborative expertise in applying rigorous approaches to
the study of host and pathogen genomes, transcriptomes, proteomes, metabolomes, microbiomes, and
phageomes, drawing upon analyses of these massive data sets to generate hypotheses that address the
common and unique mechanisms through which different microbes establish parasitism.
This interdepartmental, interdisciplinary program draws upon faculty members in eight departments and four
interdisciplinary programs with homes in four Colleges (Medicine, Public Health, Engineering, Liberal Arts) at the
University of Iowa. Our activities are aimed at inspiring and enhancing not only training of our students and
postdoctoral scholars, but also enriching the collaborative interactions between faculty members with different
areas of expertise. In this submission, we now add faculty with expertise in Metabolomics, Phylogenetics,
Bioinformatics, and Epidemiology to the faculty. Our current faculty members already have considerable depth
in mechanisms of microbial virulence and host innate and adaptive immune responses. We aim to adopt, and
by default, have our trainees adopt a more comprehensive view of the intricate relationships between host,
microbe, and environment that contributed to parasitism. Our prior trainees have been highly successful; 100%
of those who are done with training have assumed positions in the biomedical sciences or related fields, with
54% holding tenure track university positions and 39% performing research in industry. In this application we
propose an enhanced approach to helping trainees develop their careers. We have been successful at recruiting
minority candidates and propose means to enhance that even further. Overall, we view this as a comprehensive
program to train graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in diverse aspects of paras...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10426360
- **Project number:** 5T32AI007511-27
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **Principal Investigator:** Noah Sullivan Butler
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $404,792
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1996-08-01 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10426360

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10426360, Training in Mechanisms of Parasitism (5T32AI007511-27). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10426360. Licensed CC0.

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