Molecular Parasitology Lab
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Getting involved in research
Welcome to the Laboratory of Dr. Paul Davis at the University of Nebraska at Omaha!
Our translational biomedical research laboratory works to discover and develop medicines and immunostimulatants against human infectious diseases, including the brain-dwelling parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Naegleria fowleri.
Our lab works with collaborators to develop promising new therapeutics (both vaccines and treatments) to infectious diseases. We involve students and trainees from all experience levels in our work.
Current Research Topics (not exhaustive):
- Anti-parasitic compound screening: Using robotics, high-throughput screening platforms, and advanced imaging, our laboratory evaluates promising drug-like small molecules for activity against human parasitic pathogens, including Toxoplasma gondii and Naegleria fowleri. Both organisms can infect the human central nervous system, making therapeutic development especially challenging because effective compounds must reach and act within this protected anatomical compartment. Currently, there is no effective treatment for N. fowleri, and no clinical treatment for clearing chronic T. gondii infection.
- Development of host-directed immunostimulants: Limited treatment options, poor drug tolerability, and the continued rise of antimicrobial resistance highlight the need for new therapeutic strategies. Our laboratory investigates host-directed molecules that enhance or redirect immune responses against pathogens that normally evade or suppress host defenses. Promising compounds have demonstrated activity against viral, bacterial, and/or parasitic pathogens while maintaining strong tolerability in model systems.
- Human model systems analysis: Leveraging advances in human tissue engineering, we use brain-like model systems to investigate host-pathogen interactions and evaluate how promising drug-like molecules disrupt infection. These systems allow us to study infectious processes in a human-relevant context, particularly for pathogens that affect the central nervous system.