Clinical and diagnostic support for Coccidioides infection (Valley fever)
Clinical and Diagnostics Core
This program collects blood and spinal fluid samples and runs clinical tests to help improve diagnosis and understand immune and metabolic responses in people with Valley fever.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11257663 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I have Valley fever, the Core would collect my blood and sometimes cerebrospinal fluid and store those samples in a linked database tied to my clinical records. The team runs lab assays to look for Coccidioides antigens and for host immune and metabolic markers. Samples and data are shared with research projects and technology cores to help develop better diagnostic tests and biological markers. The Core supports collaborations across UCSF and partner centers to speed translational work toward improved care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with or suspected of having coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever), including those with localized or disseminated disease who can provide blood and possibly CSF samples, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without Coccidioides infection, those unwilling or unable to give biological samples, or those outside participating clinical sites are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this Core.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could produce better diagnostic tests and biomarkers that give faster, more accurate diagnosis and help guide treatment for Coccidioides infections.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has identified promising candidate antigens and host biomarkers for Valley fever but reliable, widely used diagnostics remain limited, so this work expands on promising but still-maturing approaches.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thompson, George Richard — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Thompson, George Richard
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.