Patricia L. Winokur, MD

Patricia Winokur, MDCTSA Co-PI and Co-Director of ICTS

Executive Dean, Carver College of Medicine

Professor, Internal Medicine - Infectious Diseases

Personal Statement

My research career has spanned basic, translational and clinical research. My basic science endeavors focused on understanding the replication and transcriptional regulation of human papillomavirus. As the HPV vaccine demonstrated efficacy, I decided to move my research into a new focus.

My clinical experience informed my choice as I noted more and more aggressive antibiotic resistant bacteria in my practice.  I joined a group of scientists who had skills in traditional clinical microbiological approaches to studying antimicrobial resistance and brought a molecular approach to studying animal and human bacterial pathogens trying to characterize new genes associated with resistance. In 2002, our Infectious Diseases department was asked to serve as a subcontract site to perform urgent clinical trials on several bioterrorism related and pandemic influenza vaccine trials. I took on this challenge and I expanded my research focus and developed an active clinical research program that has focused on infectious diseases related translational and clinical trials.

From 2003-2011 I directed the NIH, NIAID funded Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens Clinical Trials Unit. In 2007 I was awarded one of 8 Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit contracts from NIAID and funding is ongoing as we complete projects under this contract. Last year, my team was awarded a new NIAID VTEU 10 year contract that will continue through 2023. Our unit has enrolled over 3,000 participants in a series of complex Phase 1-IV trials. In collaboration with one of my colleagues in the Department of Microbiology (M. Apicella, MD) and College of Public Health (K. Chaloner, PhD), we developed a novel human colonization model for nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae. The model utilizes a strain of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae that has acquired Investigational New Drug status. The trials have led to important discoveries of Haemophilus influenzae phase variation and pathogenesis and serve as a proof of concept model for studying Haemophilus influenzae vaccines.

In addition, I have designed and completed a number of NIH sponsored infectious disease related clinical trials studying diverse diseases from influenza, human papillomavirus, tularemia, SARS, rotavirus, smallpox and varicella virus. Most recently I mentored one of our junior pulmonary faculty and designed a new clinical trial to evaluate a novel antimicrobial device used in intubated patients in the intensive care unit. I have also designed a new trial to study a novel antimicrobial agent (glycerol monolaurate) discovered by one of my colleagues in the Department of Microbiology (P. Schlievert, PhD), that will be used to study the safety and efficacy of the compound in bacterial vaginosis.

As the Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Science and now the Executive Dean, I have a deep understanding of the College of Medicine research program, finances, infrastructure and faculty and have developed strong relationships with other colleges at the University of Iowa. My role has fostered collaborations between College of Medicine faculty and others throughout the university. I have served as the Senior Associate Director of the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science since 2014, I work closely with the University leadership and faculty to develop innovative research programs and foster the infrastructure required to support clinical and translational scientific endeavors. These experiences are all critical components for the CTSA program and have prepared me to lead this large interdisciplinary program.

Education

  • Biochemistry BA - Brown University 1981
  • Medical Doctor - Washington University School of Medicine 1985
  • Internal Medicine Resident - University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics 1988
  • Infectious Diseases  Fellow - University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics 1991
  • Laboratory of Tumor Virus Biology Postdoctoral Fellow - National Institutes of Health 1993

Positions

  • Resident, Department of Medicine, University of Iowa (1985 - 1988)
  • Fellow, Infectious Diseases, The University of Iowa (1988 - 1991)
  • VA Career Award, Associate Investigator, Iowa City VA Hospital (1990)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Tumor Virus Biology, National Cancer Institute, NIH (1991 - Present)
  • Staff Physician, Iowa City Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA (1993 - Present)
  • Assistant Professor (Infectious Diseases), Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA (1993 - 1997)
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA (1997 - 2000)
  • Co-Director, Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (1999 - 2000)
  • Assistant Professor (Infectious Diseases) Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA (2000 - 2002)
  • Associate Professor (Infectious Diseases), Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA (2000 - 2009)
  • Interim Associate Chief of Staff, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA (2003 - Present)
  • Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Education, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA (2004 - 2008)
  • Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Research, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City , IA (2008 - 2016)
  • Professor (Infectious Diseases), Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA (2009 - Present)
  • Executive Associate Director, Institute for Clinical and Translational Science, University of Iowa (2014 - Present)
  • Executive Dean, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA (2016 - Present)

Professional Memberships

  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, JAMA (1995)
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Diseases journal (1999 - 2001)
  • Editorial Board, Journal of Clinical Microbiology (2001 - Present)
  • Ad Hoc USDA Grant Reviews, USDA (2001 - Present)
  • Ad Hoc VA Merit Grant Reviews, Veteran's Affairs (2001)
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, Clinical Microbiology and Infections journal (2001 - 2002)
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, New England Journal of Medicine (2002 - Present)
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer , Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (2002 - Present)
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, Emerging Infectious Diseases journal (2003 - Present)
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, Applied and Environmental Microbiology journal (2004)
  • External Reviewer, National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) , CDC (2004)
  • Graduate, University of Iowa Institutional Leadership Development Program (2004)
  • VA Career Development Grant Review Panel, Veteran's Affairs (2007)
  • Graduate, Hedwig van Amerigen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Program for Women (2007 - 2008)
  • VA Merit Review Panel- Infectious Diseases B, Veteran's Affairs (2008 - Present)
  • Graduate, Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) Academic Leadership Program (2010 - 2011)

Honors

  • Graduated Magna Cum Laude , Brown University - 1981
  • Merck Scholastic Achievement Award , Washington University School of Medicine - 1985
  • Young Investigator Award (Virology of the Infectious Diseases), Burroughs Wellcome Fund - 1993
  • Basil O’Connor Starter Scholars Award , March of Dimes - 1995
  • Above and Beyond Award , University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics - 2003

Publications

Ongoing Research Support

HHSN272201300020I (Winokur PI)

2013/09/16-2023/09/15

NIAID, NIH

Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units, (VTEU)

Clinical Trials Unit

Role: PI

U54 TR001356 (Winokur PI)

2015/8/14-2017/7/31

NCATS, NIH

Clinical and Translational Science Award

Role: PI

IRC005 (Winokur PI)

2015/10/01-2018/12/31

NIAID, NIH

A Randomized Double-Blind, Phase 3 Study Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of High-Titer versus Low-Titer Anti-Influenza Immune Plasma for the Treatment of Severe Influenza A - IRC005

Clinical Trial

Role: PI

Completed Research Support

IRC004 (Winokur PI)

2011/08/01-2014/05/31

NIAID, NIH

A Randomized Double-Blind Study Comparing Oseltamivir versus Placebo for the Treatment of Influenza in Low Risk Adults

Clinical Trial

Role: PI

VRC703 (Winokur PI)

2012/06/01-2014/02/28

NIAID, NIH

Randomized Phase 1b Study of the Safety and Immunogenicity of Investigational Seasonal Influenza DNA Vaccine (HA DNA) followed by Trivalent Inactivated Vaccine Administered Intradermally or Intramuscularly in Healthy, Adults Ages 18-70 Year

Clinical Trial

Role: PI

HHSN272200800008C (Winokur PI)

2007/11/01-2016/10/31

NIAID, NIH

Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit and Control Measures Against Diseases Other Than AIDS

Clinical Trials Unit

Role: PI

NIH, NHLBI

2014/07/01-2015/09/30

(Winokur, Site PI)                                                                                                                           

INVESTED:  Influenza vaccine to effectively stop cardiothoracic events and decompensated heart failure.

Contact Information:

Patricia L. Winokur, MD