Nationwide Online Fungal Diseases Study
Have you been diagnosed with histoplasmosis, blastomycoses, or coccidioidomycosis? We want to hear from you!
A collaborative project supported by:
Matthew F. Pullen, MD - University of Minnesota
Nate Bahr, MD - University of Minnesota
Fariba Donovan, MD - University of Arizona
Neil Ampel, MD - University of Arizona, Mayo Clinic
Geetha Sivasubramanian, MD - UC San Francisco
David Boulware, MD - University of Minnesota
George R. Thompson, MD - UC Davis
Peter Pappas, MD - University of Alabama Birmingham
Janis Blair, MD - Mayo Clinic
Thuy Le, MD - Duke University
What are histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and coccidioidomycosis?
Together, these three fungal infections are known as "endemic mycoses" - that is, fungal infections known to be more common in certain parts of the country (and world). In the United States, coccidioidomycosis (also known as "Valley Fever") is more common in the southwest, while histoplasmosis and blastomycosis are more common in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys of the midwest and southeast.While each of them can cause different forms of infection, ranging from pneumonia-like respiratory infections to skin lesions to meningitis, what they all have in common is that there are only a handful of medications to treat them. When patients have side effects with these medications, it often leaves them with few options for alternative treatment.
Treatment
Treating these infections typically involves several months of oral antifungal medications. That means taking one or more pills every day for a very long period of time, often with unwanted side effects. When side effects occur, the alternative options for treatment often carry a similar risk for side effects, or have limited data supporting their use in that specific infection.
New Directions
Our group is studying new antifungal medications to help treat these infections. By performing trials on these medications, our hope is to bring safe, new alternatives to the antifungal arsenal, putting new tools in the hands of doctors and patients.
Who is performing this study?
Dr. Matthew Pullen (University of Minnesota) and his team are the primary leaders of this online study. Their team has support from the Mycoses Study Group and the CDC. If you have questions, you can reach the team at fungalstudy@umn.edu.
Who can participate in this study?
Anyone who has been diagnosed with histoplasmosis ("histo"), blastomycosis ("blasto"), or coccidioidomycosis ("cocci" or "Valley Fever") in the last 3 months.
Why are you doing this study?
We want to hear from patients directly to better understand treatment outcomes, side effects, and costs associated with new antifungal medications.
What do I have to do if I join this study?
Participating in this study is quick and easy. All we ask if that you fill out screening and enrollment surveys (about 20 minutes), and then you'll receive a short (15 minute) online survey once per month for one year.
Does participating in this study affect my treatment?
No, your treatment plan is not affected by participating in this study. We are simply asking about your experience as a patient.
How can I join this study?
Click the button below to go right to our screening and enrollment survey so you can join today!
Where can I learn more about this study?
Click the button below to download our consent form, which goes into detail about the study. You can also reach out to our team with any questions at fungalstudy@umn.edu!
© Matthew Pullen MD. All rights reserved.