# QMRA IV- Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Interdisciplinary Vehicle: Addressing Emerging Global Health Risks

> **NIH NIH R25** · MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $461,067

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) is a research domain that addresses exposures to microbial
pathogens and infectious disease processes in order to characterize human health effects. It has become a
well-established framework for predictive and retrospective evaluations of health risks. QMRA is a translational
science requiring integration of knowledge from mathematics, statistics, biology, engineering, and public
health. Though complex, QMRA is highly useful for addressing societal problems encountered within the
multidisciplinary biomedical community - public health, emergency response, environmental control measures,
decontamination, industrial hygiene and medical countermeasures. Exposure to microbial agents of disease
and subsequent development of infection are dynamic processes associated with substantial variability and
uncertainty across the population, which must also be communicated in order to effectively manage risk. Since
risk science is inherently interdisciplinary, few programs in the contributing disciplines offer courses and
training in QMRA. Though training, models and tools have increased as the result of our preliminary work,
barriers to full participation across the biomedical community still exists especially needs in mentoring and
outreach. Our long term goals are to increase the capability for biomedical and behavioral scientists: (i) to
incorporate and contribute to microbial risk assessments related to their research; and (ii) to increase their
ability to lead and contribute to diverse, interdisciplinary team science projects related to microbial risks. The
objective of this project is to provide the biomedical community with comprehensive training in microbial risk
sciences, evidence-based mentoring approaches to support inclusion and participation of scientists from
diverse backgrounds and a data/computational platform to facilitate deeper learning and the QMRA practice.
The proposed project builds upon several, successful, ten-day courses offered through the NIH funded
QMRAIII program (2014 to 2018) and previous one week-long, intensive courses conducted through the
Center for Advancing Microbial Risk Assessment) from 2006 to 2011. Each year, there were significantly more
applicants than allowable enrollment; and mid-career and senior faculty members were generally excluded to
prioritize early career researchers. Our evaluations and assessments support our model of practice for
reaching learning objectives. However, the balance of contributions across the biomedical community would be
greatly enhanced through sustained mentoring and outreach opportunities which are complementary to the
course as well as an online platform for future trainees and educators.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10476498
- **Project number:** 5R25GM135058-03
- **Recipient organization:** MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jade Mitchell
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $461,067
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-16 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10476498

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10476498, QMRA IV- Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Interdisciplinary Vehicle: Addressing Emerging Global Health Risks (5R25GM135058-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10476498. Licensed CC0.

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