Tri-Institutional TRAC Basic Science Core

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ABSTRACT Efforts to control the tuberculosis (TB) pandemic depend on a close and bidirectional integration of basic and clinical research because TB is a human-only disease. Archaeological DNA evidence further indicates that humans constitute Mycobacterium tuberculosis’ (Mtb) only known host and reservoir, making knowledge of the fundamental biology of TB dependent on training in a both a diverse and specialized network of disciplines and technologies. The Basic Science Core, led by Drs. Sabine Ehrt and Mike Glickman, seeks to meet these needs by providing new, and new to TB, investigators (NI/N2TB) access to technical expertise and resources to pursue innovative multidisciplinary lines of investigation while simultaneously facilitating their entry into the field of TB research. To do so, this core will provide structured mentorship from: senior TB investigators at Weill Cornell, Memorial Sloan Kettering and Rockefeller University in seven areas of basic science relevant to TB research (“OMICS” technologies, genetic screening technologies, TB mouse models, mycobacterial genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry, human genetics and immunology, drug development and chemistry, and bioinformatics and data analysis); and technical experts from the labs of these faculty to provide hands-on training in these seven areas. These senior investigators will also facilitate the networking of these new, and new to TB, investigators with pre-existing collaborators in their respective fields. The assembled faculty are leaders in the mycobacterial subfields of bacterial genetics, animal models, immunology, metabolomics, and genetic screening and have an extensive track record of mentoring and interdisciplinary collaboration. The Basic Science Core will operate in close collaboration with the Developmental Core and offer 2 funded training pathways: the “Training to Independence Pathway” and the “Specialized Technology Training Pathway”. The goal of the former is to help NIs secure an independent faculty position and their first R01 and will involve a package of mentorship, career development, technical experts and access to basic science resources (animal facilities, genetically modified Mtb libraries, mass spectrometry, etc.). The goal of the latter pathway is to provide NIs, N2TB, and other investigators with focused support and involve technical experts for specialized skills acquisition and/or technology transfer and access to basic science core resources. Together, these activities will enable the Basic Science Core to meet the overarching goals of this TRAC program to: 1) increase the number of NIH funded investigators conducting basic science and translational research in TB, and 2 foster multidisciplinary TB research.