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

William M. Geisler，医学博士，M.P.H.是亚拉巴马大学职业生涯中期的医学科学家， 伯明翰（UAB），拥有独立的联邦资金，在沙眼衣原体（CT）感染方面的专业知识， 在以患者为导向的研究（POR）中指导早期职业阶段学员的重要经验。这 职业中期研究者奖将使Geisler博士：1）进一步发展他的指导技能，2）继续 为早期职业阶段的学员提供POR指导，以及3）在新的方向上扩展他的研究计划 支持两个新的研究项目。CT感染在年轻女性（青少年和 年轻的成年人），如果不治疗，可能会导致严重的生殖疾病。由于大多数CT 感染是无症状的，它们往往无法识别，可能得不到治疗。CT检测在很大程度上 每年对年轻女性进行筛查。由于提供者对CT筛查的依从性较低， 每年一次的筛查错过了许多自发消退或偶然治疗的感染， 无症状年轻女性CT感染的累积负担尚不清楚。又错过了一次机会 用于治疗CT感染是在女性与CT相关的排尿困难谁被误诊为尿路 感染（UTI），通常规定UTI治疗对CT无效，并且通常不进行CT测试。 在奖励的支持下，Geisler博士计划通过教学法和 培训，并继续指导他目前的早期学员，并通过多种方式招募新学员。 UAB来源。所有学员都将获得适合其职业生涯的教育和研究经验 舞台和兴趣。有了奖项的支持，Geisler博士的研究计划将通过两个新的 研究解决CT检测和治疗错过的机会，这将提供新的机会 用于指导学员、合作和资助。新研究1的目的是：评估累积的 女性青少年和年轻人的CT感染负担以及更高负担的预测因素。女性年龄 将在4家UAB诊所招募16-29岁的不同患者人群。将对受试者进行访谈， 进行尿液CT检测和血清CT抗体检测。CT感染的累积负担代表 无论哪种测试都是积极的。新研究2的目的是：确定女性CT感染的频率 表现为排尿困难的青少年和年轻人以及区分患者和尿液的特征 尿路感染引起的CT感染。因排尿困难前往UAB急诊室就诊的16-29岁女性 将入组、面谈、接受泌尿生殖道CT检查，并进行尿液试纸和细菌培养 执行。Geisler博士研究的长期目标是改善CT感染的预防和控制。 来自新研究的知识可以改善年轻无症状患者的CT筛查策略 女性和更多的测试和治疗女性提出与CT相关的排尿困难。研究 研究将为多名早期学员提供POR指导机会。

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 females and more testing and treatment in females presenting with CT-associated dysuria. The research studies will provide mentoring opportunities in POR for multiple early stage trainees.