IMMUNITY AND INFECTION

描述（由申请人提供）：传染病仍然是世界范围内的主要死亡原因，在美国仅次于心脏病和恶性肿瘤。此外，最近在国内外发生的生物恐怖主义事件突出表明，我们需要受过微生物学和免疫学培训的研究人员。持续努力对付传染病和生物恐怖主义的威胁需要两个主要组成部分：1）一个多学科的方法，结合流行病学，发病机制的分子和细胞基础的基础研究，对宿主免疫反应的透彻理解，以及对药物和疫苗开发的实际研究; 2）训练有素的新研究人员的稳定供应。该培训计划满足了这些需求，非常适合提供这些资源。我们的目标是培养免疫和感染领域的博士前学生。在巴尔的摩的马里兰州大学，它有着丰富的传染病和免疫学研究历史，我们已经从七个参与单位聚集了一个优秀的培训和资源教师。所有教师都在微生物学和免疫学系担任初级或中级职务。我们将继续使用一个强大的和既定的研究生博士课程，其中包括在细菌学，病毒学，寄生虫学和免疫学，选修课程，期刊俱乐部，研讨会，年度研讨会和研究展示日强大的核心课程的框架。学术工作将与严格的实验室培训相结合，通过实验室轮换和论文研究的培训计划教师的指导下。学生是从一个高素质和稳定的申请人池中挑选出来的，并接受过负责任的研究行为的培训。已作出具体努力，从代表性不足的少数群体中招聘受训人员。该计划由一位合格的培训计划主任和国际公认的科学家指导委员会指导。 参与教师：培训教师44人，其中教授24人，副教授10人，助理教授10人。 8名培训教员是妇女。 所有的教师都在马里兰州大学。大多数教师目前都有积极的资金，他们是首席研究员。 主要研究领域包括：细菌学、免疫学、寄生虫学、病毒学和细胞生物学。有很好的证据表明，教师之间的合作，包括联合出版物。该计划的教师有不同程度的经验，作为导师的博士前学生。 FELLOWS：该培训计划要求在第一年为六名博士生提供支持，第二年为七名，第三年至第五年为八名。 受训人员由指导委员会从微生物学和免疫学研究生课程中选出，必须通过资格考试。以前的受训人员得到了为期两年的培训补助金的支助。 资源和环境：培训教师可用的资源是杰出的。校外资助主要是NIH的资助。马里兰州大学的研究环境是合作的。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Infectious diseases remain the leading cause of death worldwide and rank third in the United States behind only heart disease and malignant neoplasms. In addition, recent bioterrorism events both here and abroad, have highlighted our need for researchers trained in microbiology and immunology. A sustained effort against the threats of infectious illness and bioterrorism require two major components: 1) a multidisciplinary approach combining epidemiology, basic studies of the molecular and cellular basis of pathogenesis, a thorough understanding of host immune response, and practical research on drug and vaccine development; and 2) a steady supply of well-trained new investigators. This training program addresses these needs and is well suited to provide these resources. Our objective is to train pre-doctoral students in the field of immunity and infection. At the University of Maryland, Baltimore, which has a rich history of infectious diseases and immunology research, we have assembled an outstanding training and resource faculty from seven participating units. All faculty hold primary or secondary appointments in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. We will continue to use the framework of a strong and established graduate doctoral program that includes a strong core curriculum in bacteriology, virology, parasitology, and immunology, elective courses, journal clubs, seminars, annual symposia, and research presentation day. Academic work will be combined with rigorous laboratory training through laboratory rotations and dissertation research under the direction of the Training Program faculty. Students are selected from a highly qualified and stable applicant pool and are trained in the responsible conduct of research. Specific efforts are in place to recruit trainees from underrepresented minorities. The program is guided by a well-qualified training program director and Steering Committee of internationally recognized scientists. PARTICIPATING FACULTY: The 44 training faculty include 24 professors, 10 associate professors, and 10 assistant professors. 8 of the training faculty are women. All of the faculty are at the University of Maryland. The majority of the faculty have currently active funding on which they are the Principal Investigator. The primary areas of research include: bacteriology, immunology, parasitology, virology, and cell biology. There is good evidence of collaboration among the faculty, including joint publications. The program faculty have varying degrees of experience as mentors to predoctoral students. FELLOWS: This training program is requesting support for six predoctoral students in year one, seven in year two, and eight in years three through five. Trainees are selected by the Steering Committee from the Graduate Program in Microbiology and Immunology and must have passed their qualifying exams. Prior trainees have been supported for a period of two years by this training grant. RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT: The resources available to the training faculty are outstanding. Extramural support is primarily NIH funding. The research environment at The University of Maryland is collaborative.