# IMPROVED ANTIGEN DETECTION TESTS FOR FILARIAL INFECTIONS

> **NIH NIH K08** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $173,179

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
This project will identify and characterize biomarkers for human filarial infections and generate monoclonal
antibodies against circulating filarial antigens that will be more specific than those used in current tests. The
need for improved diagnostic tests is pressing at this time. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global
Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) is rapidly moving towards its goal of global elimination of
lymphatic filariasis (LF) by 2020. However, problems with diagnosis represent a major challenge to the
program in Central Africa, where false positive results with the current filarial antigen tests may result in
unnecessary and potentially harmful overtreatment of populations.
Candidate
I have more than 10 years of experience and training in biomedical, translational, and public health research.
My doctoral studies on Respiratory Syncytial Virus gave me a broad understanding of principles of
immunology, virology, and host-pathogen interactions. My more recent work in epidemiology has given me an
appreciation of the scope and potential impact of global public health programs and of the critical importance of
accurate diagnostic tools for public health programs and research. I am board certified in Internal Medicine with
subspecialty certification as an Infectious Diseases clinician. This project supports my long-term career goal of
becoming an independent investigator in the area of global infectious diseases with a focus on translational
research of neglected tropical diseases; the project plan will also allow me to further develop my clinical
research skills and knowledge of infectious diseases.
Environment
My surroundings at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) are ideal for my proposed project and career
development. The intellectual environment is outstanding and I intend to take advantage of this by completing
a structured program of coursework focused on conducting field research in resource-poor settings. My
mentor’s laboratory group has a tremendous amount of experience in basic and applied research in
parasitology, and WUSTL is one of only a handful of research centers in the nation with strong expertise in
filarial diseases. My mentor is the PI of the Death to Onchocerciasis and LF project (a large-scale global health
project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), and has extensive expertise in parasitology,
immunology, and international field research. This outstanding environment for filarial research was the reason
I joined the WUSTL faculty in 2014.
Research
LF is one of the world’s leading causes of disability, and is one of a small number of infectious diseases that
are potentially eradicable. WHO’s GPELF coordinates and supports the efforts of corporate, academic,
governmental, and non-governmental partners to eliminate LF in 73 endemic countries through repeated
cycles of mass drug administration (MDA) using industry-donated drugs. GPELF is the largest MDA-based
pu...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9948565
- **Project number:** 5K08AI121422-05
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Philip Budge
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $173,179
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9948565

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9948565, IMPROVED ANTIGEN DETECTION TESTS FOR FILARIAL INFECTIONS (5K08AI121422-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9948565. Licensed CC0.

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