This K08 application for Thuy Doan, M.D., Ph.D., describes a five year strategy designed to enhance her research and professional skills with the career goal of becoming an independent clinician scientist advancing the understanding of ocular infectious and inflammatory diseases and improving their treatment. Infectious uveitis and ocular infections are a major cause of ocular morbidity and blindness worldwide. While timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for improved visual outcomes, a definitive diagnosis is often not possible given the significant knowledge gap in factors predisposing to eye infections and the limitations of available diagnostic tests in ophthalmology. The core hypothesis of this proposal is that the bacterial and viral constituents of the ocular surface are involved in ocular health and disease. The goal of this project is to understand this potential pathogen reservoir, the ocular surface microbiome and virome, and to identify infectious agents involved in ocular infections. We propose to advance the capabilities of ocular molecular diagnostics and enhance the understanding of the pathogenesis of ocular infections with the following aims.
The first aim will evaluate the use of a next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based approach as a viable clinical diagnostic test for ocular infections. These experiments will directly compare NGS to the current conventional molecular diagnostics using archived intraocular samples. Prospectively collected aqueous samples will then be assessed for potential pathogens.
The second aim will characterize the effects of antibiotics on the bacterial and viral communities using samples collected in a large randomized controlled trial. These studies have the potential to improve the diagnostic paradigm and guide targeted interventions for ocular infections. I am committed to developing a clinical research-oriented career in the field of ophthalmology at a major academic institution and understand the need to pursue additional formal training and mentorship. Key components of the career development plan include: (1) laboratory investigations of the ocular surface microbiome, virome, and causes of ocular infectious diseases; (2) mentorship from a multidisciplinary group of scientists and clinician scientists with expertise in advanced molecular techniques, biostatistics, and clinical trial designs; (3) formal didactics to expand molecular biology, biostatistics, and clinical microbiology knowledge; (4) data collection for R01 application; and (5) planned transition to independence including professional development. A scientific advisory and mentorship committee has been assembled to assure progression toward independence. The career development plan will be carried out at the University of California, San Francisco, which provides an exceptional environment to conduct this research, including state- of-the-art facilities and a world-class and supportive community of scientists all critical to my future success.

Public Health Relevance

Ocular infections remain an important cause of blindness worldwide and represent a challenging public health concern. This project takes advantage of advances in next-generation sequencing to enhance our understanding of the causes of ocular infections by characterizing the bacterial and viral communities of the ocular surface. These studies have the potential to improve the current diagnostic paradigm and guide targeted interventions for ocular infections.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08EY026986-02
Application #
9320980
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZEY1)
Program Officer
Agarwal, Neeraj
Project Start
2016-08-01
Project End
2021-07-31
Budget Start
2017-08-01
Budget End
2018-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Francisco
Department
Ophthalmology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
094878337
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94118
Doan, Thuy; Hinterwirth, Armin; Arzika, Ahmed M et al. (2018) Mass Azithromycin Distribution and Community Microbiome: A Cluster-Randomized Trial. Open Forum Infect Dis 5:ofy182
Oldenburg, Catherine E; SiƩ, Ali; Coulibaly, Boubacar et al. (2018) Effect of Commonly Used Pediatric Antibiotics on Gut Microbial Diversity in Preschool Children in Burkina Faso: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Open Forum Infect Dis 5:ofy289
Gonzales, John; Doan, Thuy; Shantha, Jessica G et al. (2018) Metagenomic deep sequencing of aqueous fluid detects intraocular lymphomas. Br J Ophthalmol 102:6-8
Doan, Thuy; Acharya, Nisha R; Pinsky, Benjamin A et al. (2017) Metagenomic DNA Sequencing for the Diagnosis of Intraocular Infections. Ophthalmology 124:1247-1248
Doan, Thuy; Arzika, Ahmed M; Ray, Kathryn J et al. (2017) Gut Microbial Diversity in Antibiotic-Naive Children After Systemic Antibiotic Exposure: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Clin Infect Dis 64:1147-1153
Doan, Thuy; Wilson, Michael R; Crawford, Emily D et al. (2016) Illuminating uveitis: metagenomic deep sequencing identifies common and rare pathogens. Genome Med 8:90