# Oklahoma Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunity

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2020 · $2,484,065

## Abstract

Abstract
The goal of this Phase-1 COBRE program is to develop and enhance the research
infrastructure, mentoring, and collaborative environment to support five Junior Investigators in
the multi-disciplinary fields of microbial pathogenesis and immunity. To achieve this goal, The
Oklahoma Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunity (OCMP&I) COBRE will be
established and fostered as a center of excellence focused on advancing the careers of Junior
Investigators studying life-threatening infectious microbes and the ways in which the immune
system responds to infection. The OCMP&I COBRE will be centrally located at the University of
Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, the flagship academic institution for biomedical research in
Oklahoma. The OCMP&I COBRE will initially include 17 scientists engaged in microbial
pathogenesis and immunity research at research-intensive institutions in Oklahoma and this
network will be expanded during the Phase-1 period as the center takes form and grows.
Among these 17 scientists are five outstanding and promising Junior Investigators who study
fungal pathogenesis, inflammation, regulation of biofilms, and necrotizing enterocolitis. The
OCMP&I and its consortium of successful senior researcher scientists will provide the
intellectual input and expertise to mentor each Junior Investigator to research independence. In
addition to outstanding mentoring, The OCMP&I COBRE will provide the funding and research
core support needed for Junior Investigators to succeed and become long-term contributors to
the microbial pathogenesis and immunity research community in Oklahoma. Intertwined with
the Junior Investigator support, will be the OCMP&I COBRE's mission to address gaps in
infrastructure and resources that have limited the opportunities for cutting-edge research in our
state. To achieve these objectives, the OCMP&I COBRE will be guided by four overall specific
aims. Specific Aim 1: Establish a thematic center to enhance research, mentoring, and
infrastructure support for microbial pathogenesis and immunity research in Oklahoma, Specific
Aim 2: Select and support outstanding Junior Investigators, Specific Aim 3: Expand and
enhance infrastructure to support innovative and collaborative research in microbial
pathogenesis and immunity in Oklahoma. Specific Aim 4: Foster a culture of collaboration and
team-science by providing opportunities for frequent scholarly interactions and outreach through
seminars, symposiums, workshops, and pilot projects. Key elements for the success of the
center include 1) the establishment of a single, but highly facile research core, that can
immediately support the first group of Junior Investigator projects and expand to meet ever-
changing research needs of investigators in microbial pathogenesis and immunity, 2) up date
and modernize research laboratory space where Junior Investigators can work with established
investigators and benefit from daily interactions, 3) Develop a pipeline of future J...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9853458
- **Project number:** 1P20GM134973-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Jimmy D. Ballard
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $2,484,065
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-03-01 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9853458

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9853458, Oklahoma Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunity (1P20GM134973-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9853458. Licensed CC0.

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