# Midcareer Mentoring Award for Patient-Oriented Research in Chlamydia trachomatis Infection

> **NIH NIH K24** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2020 · $131,265

## Abstract

William M. Geisler, M.D., M.P.H., is a mid-career stage physician scientist at the University of Alabama at
Birmingham (UAB) with independent federal funding, expertise in Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections, and
significant experience in mentoring early career stage trainees in patient-oriented research (POR). This
midcareer investigator award would enable Dr. Geisler to: 1) further develop his mentoring skills, 2) continue
providing POR mentoring to early career stage trainees, and 3) expand his research program in new directions
by supporting two new research projects. CT infections are highly prevalent in young females (adolescents and
young adults) and can cause significant reproductive morbidity when untreated. Since the majority of CT
infections are asymptomatic, they are often unrecognized and may go untreated. CT detection relies in large
part on screening young females annually. Because provider compliance with CT screening is low and
screening at an annual interval misses many infections that resolve spontaneously or are incidentally treated,
the cumulative burden of CT infection in asymptomatic young females is unknown. Another missed opportunity
for treating CT infection is in females with CT-associated dysuria who are misdiagnosed with a urinary tract
infection (UTI), often prescribed UTI treatment ineffective against CT, and usually not tested for CT.
 With award support, Dr. Geisler plans to expand and refine his mentoring skills through didactics and
training, and to continue mentoring his current early stage trainees and recruit new trainees through multiple
UAB sources. All trainees will be provided with educational and research experiences tailored to their career
stage and interests. With award support, Dr. Geisler’s research program will be augmented through two new
studies addressing missed opportunites for CT detection and treatment, which will provide new opportunities
for mentoring trainees, collaborations, and funding. The Aim of New Study 1 is: Evaluate the cumulative
burden of CT infection in female adolescents and young adults and predictors of higher burden. Females ages
16-29 years will be enrolled at 4 UAB clinics with different patient populations. Subjects will be interviewed and
undergo urine CT testing and serum CT antibody testing. Cumulative burden of CT infection represents
positivity by either test. The Aim of New Study 2 is: Determine the frequency of CT infection in female
adolescents and young adults presenting with dysuria and the patient and urine characteristics that distinguish
CT infection from UTI. Females ages 16-29 years presenting to the UAB Emergency Department with dysuria
will be enrolled, interviewed, undergo urogenital CT testing, and have a urine dipstick and bacterial culture
performed. The long-term goal of Dr. Geisler’s research is to improve prevention and control of CT infection.
Knowledge from the new studies could lead to improve CT screening strategies in young asymptomatic
fema...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9936417
- **Project number:** 5K24AI125685-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** WILLIAM M GEISLER
- **Activity code:** K24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $131,265
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-06-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9936417

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9936417, Midcareer Mentoring Award for Patient-Oriented Research in Chlamydia trachomatis Infection (5K24AI125685-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9936417. Licensed CC0.

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