Areas of Expertise
Ecology and Epidemiology of vector-borne diseases, particularly tick-borne diseases (Lyme borreliosis, human ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, rickettsiosis, anaplasmosis, and others)
Education
Ph.D. Environmental Health Sciences - 1996
(Specialization: Emphases in Arthropod Vectors and Relation to Disease, and Vector Bionomics and Field Techniques)
University of South Carolina School of Public Health
M.P.H. Epidemiology - 1993
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health
B.S. Community Health/Public Health - 1992
Western Kentucky University
Biography
SYNERGISTIC ACTIVITIES
Mentoring student research: Each semester Dr. Kerry directs undergraduate and master’s students pursuing independent study and senior seminar research projects, and Honor’s student theses. Because his research is so multidisciplinary, this provides students with unique opportunities to participate in research activities that integrate different fields, including entomology, mammalogy, herpetology, parasitology, molecular and basic microbiology, infectious disease epidemiology, ecology, genetics, etc. These students participate in all aspects of the research process, including planning, writing proposals, fieldwork, laboratory experiments, data analysis, and writing and presenting their findings. Previous students have gone on to enter medical school, veterinary medical school, physicians assistant programs, Ph.D. programs in study of infectious diseases, epidemiology, and other areas.
Research collaboration: Examples of Dr. Kerry's recent activities: Assisting Dr. J. Mitchell Lockhart at Valdosta State University in developing a tissue and serum bank of numerous species of vertebrates in GA and FL for future arthropod-borne disease research in the Southeast; participating affiliate member in a joint grant application with investigators at the University of Florida, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (FMEL) in a proposed Center for Arthropod-Borne Disease Research; co-investigator and coauthor with CDC personnel on study to estimate Lyme disease pathogen prevalence in ticks in the southeastern United States.
Community group consultant: Dr. Kerry serves as an expert consultant and member of the Northeast Florida Lyme Association, a local Lyme disease support and action group.
Community education/training: Each year Dr. Kerry makes presentations on his research findings, and the topic of ticks, their medical importance, and prevention of tick-borne diseases to Florida state park biologists and wildlife personnel at regional safety meetings, and to other local and state groups upon request.
Expert consultant: He served as an expert consultant on tick-borne diseases to the Florida Department of Health, infectious disease physicians, and the general public.
Awards
AWARDS/RECOGNITION
University of North Florida
2002 UNF Undergraduate Student Research Award (Faculty Mentor)
2002 UNF Science Undergraduate Student Research Award (Faculty Mentor)
2000 Undergraduate Student Research Award (Faculty Mentor)
2001 UNF Proposal Development Grant
2000 UNF Proposal Development Grant
1999 UNF Mini-Grant
Affiliations
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American Society of Mammalogists
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American Society for Microbiology
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American Society of Parasitologists
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Entomological Society of America
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Society for Vector Ecology
Grants and Contracts Awarded
RESEARCH SUPPORT FUNDED
Project title: Ecology of Tick-Borne Pathogens in the Southeastern USA
College of Health Dean’s Research Professorship
Effective dates: Jul. 2003—Jun. 2006
Award amount: $54,000
Funding agency: Brooks Health Foundation and UNF College of Health
Project title: Investigation of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, agent of human anaplasmosis, in vertebrates and ticks in Florida
2006 UNF Summer Scholarship Grant
Effective dates: June – August 2006
Award amount: $5,000
Funding agency: University of North Florida
Project title: Investigation of mosquitoes as vectors of the agents of human babesiosis and borreliosis in Florida
2005 UNF Summer Scholarship Grant
Effective dates: June – August 2005
Award amount: $5,000
Funding agency: University of North Florida
Non-Funded Grants
Project title: Lyme borreliae in reptiles, amphibians, and their ectoparasites in Florida
NIH AREA Grant
Effective dates: January 2006 – December 2008
Amount requested: $209,339
Funding agency: National Institutes of Health
Project title: Ecology of Rickettsia and Coxiella species
NIH Exploratory Research Grant (RFA NOT-AI-02-023; Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Disease Research Opportunities)
Amount requested: Direct costs ($400,000), Indirect costs ($48,599)
Funding agency: National Institutes of Health
Publications & Presentations
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Sumner, J.W., L.A. Durden, J. Goddard, E.Y. Stromdahl, K.L. Clark, W.K. Reeves, and C.D. Paddock. 2007. Gulf Coast ticks (Amblyomma maculatum) and Rickettsia parkeri, United States. Emerg. Infect. Dis. 13: 751-753.
Clark, K., A. Hendricks, and D. Burge. 2005. Molecular identification and analysis of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in lizards in the southeastern USA. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71: 2616-2625.
Manuscripts in Review
Clark, K.L., C. Threlkeld, B. Leydet, P. Phillips, A. Watsky, and E.J. Masters. 2009. Molecular identification of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato strains from humans in the United States reveals multiple genetic groups associated with Lyme-like illness. J. Clin. Microbiol. [Submitted Mar 2009].
Threlkeld, Clifford, Kerry Clark, Patricia Phillips, Brian Leydet, and Amanda Watsky. 2008. Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi in Blood of Patients with Clinical Lyme Disease. Journal of Clinical Microbiology [Submitted Mar 2009].
Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications
Clark, K.L. Lyme disease in Florida: What you need to know. One Health Newsletter, V. 1, Issue 3, Summer 2008.
Savick, K.M. and K.L. Clark. Summer 2008. Assessing Babesia microti sensu lato in small mammals in northeast Florida. Osprey Journal of Ideas and Inquiry.
Invited Presentations
Clark, K.L. Tickborne Disease Epidemiology in Florida. Florida Mosquito Control Association Dodd Plenary Short Course. Ocala, FL, Wednesday January 30, 2008.
Clark, K.L. Summary of Tickborne Disease Agents in Florida. Similarities and Paradoxes in Chronic Illness, A Medical Conference. St. Petersburg, FL, Saturday January 19, 2008.
Clark, K.L. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in lizards in the southeastern United States. Invited Seminar Presentation, Institute of Arthropodology & Parasitology and Department of Biology Research Seminar Series, Fall 2007, Georgia Southern University.
Clark, K.L. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in lizards in the southeastern USA. 2006 International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Center City Philadelphia, Saturday October 21.
Clark, K.L. Update on tick-borne disease in Florida. Tenth Annual Public Health Pest and Vector Management Training Conference, 21 February 2006, Panama City Beach, FL.
Clark, K.L. Life cycle, reservoirs, and vectors for Borrelia transmission in Florida. Current Controversies in Pediatric Lyme Disease: Practical Pediatrics for Clinical Colleagues, University of South Florida and All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL, January 28, 2006.
Clark, K.L. Borrelia and Babesia in wild vertebrates, ticks, and humans in Florida. Emerging Zoonotic Diseases Summit. August 23, 2005. Gainesville, FL.
