Infectious Diseases

► Community-Acquired Pneumonia Organization (CAPO) International Cohort Study

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This is an international study to evaluate management and outcome in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Currently there are 106 hospitals representing 31 countries participating in this project. The Data & Statistical Coordinating Center for the project is located in the University of Louisville Division of Infectious Diseases.

Dr. Julio Ramirez is the Principal Investigator for this project.

This is an ongoing project that was initially sponsored by unrestricted grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Abbott, Ortho-McNeil, and GlaxoSmithKline in the total amount of $200,000.

► Severe Influenza Pneumonia Surveillance (SIPS) Project

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This is a multi-center study evaluating the incidence of viral etiology of severe community-acquired pneumonia in hospitalized patients in Kentucky.

This sub-project is part of the Pandemic Planning and Preparedness Program contract directed by Dr. Paul McKinney from the University of Louisville School of Public health and Information Sciences.

The Department of Homeland Security through the National Institute for Hometown Security funds this sub-project.

Dr. Ramirez is the Principal Investigator for this sub-project. The total contracted amount for the project is $4.6 million over three years.

The sub-contract amount for the SIPS project is $582,936.

► Improving Medicine through Pathway Assessment of Critical Therapy in Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia (IMPACT-HAP)

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This is an investigator-initiated, multi-center project with the objective to develop and implement a hospital-acquired pneumonia guideline at the local hospital level.

The Data & Statistical Coordinating Center for the project is located in the Division of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Ramirez is the Principal Investigator for this project sponsored by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.

The total contract amount for the IMPACT-HAP project is $667,000.

► The Role of Alcohol in HIV Therapy Hepatotoxicity

The objective of this research is to evaluate mechanisms of liver injury in HIV patients on HAART who drink alcohol. The principal investigator of this RO1 NIH funded grant is Dr. Craig McClain of the University of Louisville Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.

This project is a combination of basic and clinical research. Members of the Division of Infectious Diseases are responsible for the clinical research aspect of the project.

This is the first National Institutes of Health sponsored project offered to the patients attending our U of L HIV Clinic. The total amount of this NIH funded grant is $1,850,000.

► Ryan White HIV/AIDS Grant

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The objective of this grant is to provide comprehensive care in an outpatient setting for people living with HIV disease.

The Health Resources & Services Administration HIV/AIDS Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, sponsors this grant.

Dr. Ramirez is the U of L HIV Program Director, and Dr. Rama Kapoor is the HIV Clinic Director.

A total amount of $982,627 was awarded for the current fiscal year and is renewed annually.

► Rapid Empiric Treatment with Oseltamivir (RETO) Study

The objective of this grant is to evaluate the role of empiric anti-influenza therapy in the outcomes of hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract infections.

Dr. Ramirez is the Principal Investigator for this project, and the Data & Statistical Coordinating Center for the project is located in the Division of Infectious Diseases.

The project is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and started on September 1, 2010. A total amount of $1,499,379 was awarded for a 2-year period.

► Targeted Clinical Trials to Reduce the Risk of Antimicrobial Resistance: Microbiology Testing with the Aim of Directed Antimicrobial Therapy for Community-Acquired Pneumonia

This is a multi-center clinical trial sponsored by the NIH. Dr. Victor Yu from the University of Pittsburgh is the Principal Investigator.

The University of Louisville is one of the six centers participating in the trial. This proposal is under contract negotiation with the NIH.

Dr. Ramirez is the Principal Investigator for the University of Louisville site. The proposed budget for the University of Louisville is in the amount of $2,424,015 for the 5-year duration of the study.

► Development of Algorithms and Molecular Approaches for Diagnosis of Severe Febrile Illness due to Especially Dangerous Pathogens in Ukraine

This is a multi-center clinical study to evaluate the etiology, treatment and outcomes of hospitalized patients with severe febrile illness in different regions of Ukraine. Dr. Colleen Jonsson, Director of the University of Louisville Center for Predictive Medicine, directs the project.

This project is a subcontract from the Southern Research Institute, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Dr. Ramirez is the Principal Investigator for the clinical aspects of the project.

The proposed budget for the clinical aspects of the project, currently under contract negotiation, is in the amount of $1,115,385.