Microbial Pathogenesis Training Grant

The Microbial Pathogenesis Training Grant is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Immunology of the NIH, and supports three pre-doctoral and three post-doctoral trainees working on projects in the area of microbial pathogenesis. Microbial Pathogenesis involves the study of the interactions between microbial pathogens and their hosts. Many pathogen virulence factors are only fully understood when investigated in the context of host responses to infection. Our training grant supports research that studies the molecular events involved in microbial infections and host responses. Example pathogenic microbes include bacterial pathogens associated with acute and chronic infections, viral pathogens responsible for HIV and influenza, pathogenic yeast and fungi, and biodefense-related and emerging pathogens.

Our training program provides courses in microbial pathogenesis, viral pathogenesis, parasites, immunology, genetics, cell biology and gene regulation. Research opportunities with many important pathogens are available with our faculty, as well as opportunities to study immune mechanisms involved in innate and adaptive responses to these pathogens.

Faculty members participating in the training grant reside in several departments at the university, including Pathology, Biochemistry, Oncological Sciences, Biology, Medicine, Pediatrics, Human Genetics, and Medicinal Chemistry. Trainees receive many opportunities to meet with outside speakers and to interact with both clinicians and basic scientists in multiple venues, including the Microbial Pathogenesis Seminar Series, our annual retreat, summer journal clubs, and the Combined Clinical-Microbiology Seminars. In addition, trainees present their ongoing research to one another during informal lunch talks, and have the opportunity to learn about varying career paths through interactions with outside academic and non-academic experts.