The National Institutes of Health have awarded researchers at Clemson (S.C.) University with a $10.5 million grant to study infectious diseases that threaten the health of billions worldwide.
The Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence grant will allow the Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center at Clemson to develop the infrastructure and expand research capabilities to bolster the fight against intractable infectious diseases like amoebic dysentery, African sleeping sickness and fungal meningitis.
"This grant is a force multiplier for advancing research by positioning our junior faculty and young investigators to compete for complimentary funding and by enhancing collaboration between other programs at Clemson," said EPIC co-founder and biological sciences professor Lesly Temesvari, PhD.
The grant will enable five junior faculty members, four research technicians, 11 PhD graduate students and administrative personnel to work on the EPIC studies.
Kerry Smith, PhD, EPIC director and professor of genetics and biochemistry, said that while diseases caused by fungal and parasitic pathogens seem like a nondomestic threats, the recent world emergencies caused by Zika and Ebola outbreaks point to the significance of the work.
Dr. Smith said, "It's very clear that as global economies develop, travel becomes easier and the climate changes, these diseases that were once constricted to tropical and subtropical areas will start coming to the United States."
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