Cynthia Chappell

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About

Although retired from teaching, I am an active investigator in the Center for Infectious Diseases at the University of Texas School of Public Health. I have had a longtime interest in human parasitic diseases and have published a large number (~100) of peer-reviewed research papers, textbook chapters, and technical reports on these subjects. My research has included several human parasites, but has focused primarily on Cryptosporidium. I have received multiple grants from the NIH and EPA to support my research. Of special note, the Cryptosporidium Volunteer Studies, carried out for 13 years, were the first and only such studies for this parasite and have provided important information on the natural history of the infection and the host immune response to the parasite. The dose response data from these studies have been used by the EPA in risk assessment and setting of water quality regulatory standards for the U.S. New studies take advantage of the samples collected during the earlier Volunteer Studies so that new questions may be addressed with the variety of molecular techniques that are now available. These new NIH-funded studies on Cryptosporidium focus on the gut microbiome and the mechanisms by which gut microbiota influence host susceptibility. These efforts are expected to lead to a non-antibiotic approach to prevention and/or treatment for this important diarrheal disease.

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Center Affiliation

Center for Infectious Diseases

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Research Interests

• Epidemiology
• Infectious Disease