Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine has established the Pathobiome Research Center dedicated to studying the connections between infectious processes and chronic disorders.
The research center is founded and led by Director Nikki Schultek, who is also principal and founder of the Intracell Research Group (IRG) and executive director and co-founder of the Alzheimer’s Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI).
Creation of the Pathobiome Research Center is the result of an eight-year collaboration between Schultek and PCOM’s Brian J. Balin, PhD, a professor of Neuroscience and Neuropathology and director of the Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging.
“Research suggests that a lot of chronic conditions are linked to infectious agents,” said Schultek. “The new center will allow us to continue our research on the connection between infections and Alzheimer’s Disease, but also expand into other diseases to unveil their root causes.”
The mission of the Pathobiome Research Center is to connect scientists, infectious disease specialists, and other healthcare providers to advance research and education on the relationship between infection and chronic diseases. Schultek and Balin believe this work will lead to better approaches to diagnose, prevent, and treat illnesses that stem from infectious agents.
Schultek is no stranger to the world of infectious diseases, having been diagnosed with Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and Lyme Disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) nine years ago. As a result of her chronic illness journey and finding a proper diagnosis through research and treatment by a global infectious disease expert, the late Dr. Charles W. Stratton, Schultek was motivated to devote her career to advancing research and innovation.
“Receiving a proper diagnosis after a year of misdiagnoses shed light on knowledge gaps in complex chronic illnesses and also revealed abundant health equity disparities,” shared Schultek. “This experience inspired me to help patients by building research collaborations that accelerate innovation while creating an ecosystem for future generations of scientists and clinicians.”
Balin said the new center will provide more opportunities for PCOM students to get hands-on research experience that could ultimately change the trajectory of their careers and promote global collaborations with other universities and medical schools.
“A key objective of the Pathobiome Research Center is to engage more students in the research,” Balin explained. “Our long-term vision is to see our findings applied across various healthcare disciplines, such as psychology and physician assistant programs. This interdisciplinary approach will enable practitioners to develop more comprehensive diagnoses and treatment plans for their patients.”
Established in 1899, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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