EnhAncing Research and meNtoring Skills in Tuberculosis (EARN TB)

Emory University, Atlanta GA

Investigators

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY Despite the advent of new diagnostics and treatments, tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of overall mortality worldwide. There is an urgent need to better understand the host immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and its role in causing lung damage and lung health morbidity as well as to train the next generation of TB scientists focused on patient-oriented research. The overarching goal of this K24 is to provide support for Dr. Russell Kempker to 1) have the protected time needed to successfully mentor early-stage investigators in TB patient-oriented research, 2) receive training in host immunology and bioinformatics as well as in team science, mentorship, and leadership and 3) to carry out innovative TB translational research on the host immune response to Mtb. Dr. Kempker has mentored >60 U.S. and international trainees in TB patient-oriented research and has leadership positions in numerous TB research capacity building programs including serving as the Co-Director of the NIH NIAID supported Emory/Georgia TB Research Advancement Center (TRAC) Developmental Core and MPI and Associate Program Director of two Fogarty International Center D43 Global Infectious Diseases TB Research Training Programs in the countries of Ethiopia and Georgia, respectively. The proposed research will leverage a long standing (>20 years) collaboration with the National Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases in Tbilisi, Georgia including leveraging an ongoing NIAID R01 study (Contact PI, Kempker; R01AI173946) to conduct the proposed research and to provide mentored research opportunities. This K24 would utilize a unique cohort of persons with pulmonary TB undergoing adjunctive surgical resection to support new studies including 1) evaluating the impact of surgical removal of Mtb diseased lung on decreasing systemic inflammation and 2) utilizing enhanced spatial transcriptomics methods to evaluate the host immune response associated with various types of lung granulomas at a single cell level. Findings from this newly proposed research are expected to provide critical insights that can inform strategies for developing novel host directed therapies. Emory University provides an excellent environment for achieving the training goals for this K24 proposal and through it various schools and international partners for the recruitment of a diverse, strong pool of early-stage investigators. Overall, this proposal would directly address key research priorities in the NIAID TB strategic research agenda and provide Dr. Kempker the time, training, and skills to effectively mentoring the next generation of impactful TB scientists in patient oriented clinical and translational research. The long-term goal of the proposed activities in this K24 proposal are focused on improving the lives of persons inflicted with and suffering from TB and to provide meaningful contribution in the fight to end TB.