UCF Med Student Secures NIH Fellowship to Tackle Antibiotic Resistance
A third-year medical student from the University of Central Florida (UCF), Larissa Dixon, has been awarded a prestigious fellowship from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) to address the growing issue of antibiotic resistance. This Fogarty International Center Fellowship will allow her to conduct research in Peru at the Asociación Civil Impacta Salud y Educación (IMPACTA) as part of her commitment to global health.
Dixon’s journey began after a transformative three-week clinical experience in Lima, Peru, at the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas. Inspired by the local healthcare environment, she sought to return for further research. “When I was in Peru, I thought it was such a great experience and I wanted to know how I can come back and do more research,” she explained. Her initiative led her to apply for the fellowship, making her the first UCF student to receive this award, among nearly 100 selected worldwide.
Research Focus on Antibiotic Use and Resistance
Dixon’s research will focus on the implementation of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (DoxyPEP) in Peruvian clinics. This preventative antibiotic has shown promise in reducing sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Through surveys of healthcare providers and patients, she aims to uncover what is necessary for the safe and effective adoption of DoxyPEP.
Dixon emphasizes the importance of her research in the context of antibiotic resistance, a significant global health threat. “As places start to adopt guidelines, I’m hoping my research can better inform how and when these measures should be used,” she stated. The widespread availability of antibiotics in Peru, often without prescriptions, presents a unique opportunity for Dixon to compare outcomes with practices in the United States.
The challenge of antibiotic resistance arises when antibiotics are used excessively, complicating new prevention strategies. Dixon’s project seeks to balance the benefits of DoxyPEP with the potential risks of increasing antimicrobial resistance. By engaging both patients and healthcare professionals, her study aims to identify gaps in care, which could inform educational efforts and enhance antibiotic stewardship.
UCF’s Position in Global Health Research
Dixon’s achievement is notable not only for her individual success but also for UCF’s emerging role in global health research. The university is not yet part of an NIH-supported global health consortium, which makes her fellowship particularly significant. To secure the Fogarty Fellowship, Dixon had to seek mentorship from researchers across the U.S. and abroad, a process she approached with determination.
She is being mentored by Jenell Stewart at the University of Minnesota, as well as Javier Lama and Alexander Lankowski in Peru. Elena Cyrus, associate professor of population health sciences at UCF, praised Dixon’s tenacity and foresight. “Larissa’s project is something that will allow this to be explored comprehensively,” Cyrus noted, highlighting the relevance of antibiotic resistance to populations in both the U.S. and abroad.
Dixon’s fellowship could enhance UCF’s global health presence, possibly paving the way for the university to join an NIH consortium in the future. Cyrus envisions this as a step towards establishing UCF as a flagship institution for medical research in the southeastern United States.
Dixon is enthusiastic about the opportunities the fellowship will provide. “Just having that Fogarty fellowship under my belt opens up so many global connections for me,” she remarked, as she prepares for the year ahead after completing her orientation in Washington, D.C.
With aspirations to specialize as an infectious disease physician focusing on HIV and STI research, Dixon plans to integrate her clinical practice with global health research. “I think with medicine, you learn how to really impact someone’s life on an individual level,” she said, underscoring her commitment to making a difference both locally and globally.
The NIH’s Fogarty International Center aims to bolster global health research efforts by fostering partnerships and training the next generation of scientists. Dixon’s work exemplifies the kind of impactful research that aligns with these goals, addressing urgent health challenges on a worldwide scale.
