# Training in Mechanisms of Parasitism

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 2020 · $345,604

## Abstract

The Mechanisms of Parasitism training program has been an ongoing program at the University
of Iowa for 19 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. Thus this faculty provides trainees with an opportunity to address basic questions
regarding microbial pathogenesis using a full repertoire of techniques. Our underlying hypothesis is
that protozoal, helminthic, bacterial, and viral pathogens face similar obstacles in overcoming
mammalian antimicrobial defenses. The mechanisms through which one pathogen evades killing
within the host may provide insights into means through which other pathogens survive in their unique
host niche. There is a long history of collaborative research and training among the laboratories at
the University of Iowa, and 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
genomes, transcriptomes, proteomes, microbiomes and phageomes, drawing on logical hypotheses
from massive data sets and methods/ models to address these hypotheses.
 This interdepartmental, interdisciplinary program draws upon faculty members in four
departments and four interdisciplinary programs at the University of Iowa. Our activities are aimed at
inspiring and enhancing not only training of our students and postdoctoral scholars, but also at
enhancing the collaborative interactions between faculty members with different areas of expertise. In
particular we have added faculty with expertise in Bioinformatics and Epidemiology to the faculty list.
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 students and postdoctoral scholars in
diverse aspects of parasitism, and to prepare them for productive careers in biomedical research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9965736
- **Project number:** 5T32AI007511-25
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **Principal Investigator:** Noah Sullivan Butler
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $345,604
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1996-08-01 → 2021-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9965736

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9965736, Training in Mechanisms of Parasitism (5T32AI007511-25). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9965736. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*