Training Program in Microbial Pathogenesis

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT This proposal requests support for Years 15-20 of the T32 Training Program in Microbial Pathogenesis, a highly successful program that incorporates researchers from 11 departments at the University of Utah. This program was initially an outgrowth of the twice-monthly Microbial Pathogenesis Seminar Series (MPSS), which brought together basic scientists and clinician scientists in Microbiology and Immunology for regular, highly engaging research presentations. Since its inception 14 years ago, the Training Program has sponsored 3 predoctoral and 3 postdoctoral trainees annually. Predoctoral trainees enter graduate school primarily through the Molecular Biology umbrella program, where they are supported for one year while taking rigorous core courses and selecting a thesis laboratory. Predoctoral trainees are selected after entering a laboratory associated with a T32 mentor, while postdoctoral trainees may be recruited from within or outside of the University to work in T32 mentor labs. The Training Program provides many opportunities for exposure of the trainees and the broader community to cutting edge research. Program-sponsored activities include the MPSS, the Microbial Pathogenesis Retreat, the Summer Journal Club, the Clinical-Microbiology Combined Conference, and advanced courses in Bacterial Pathogenesis, Molecular Virology, and Immunology. Critical to the training environment are trainee opportunities for interaction with MPSS speakers who have a variety of research and health perspectives, and the opportunity to host distinguished speakers. Each of the trainees also present their research at the Training Grant Annual Retreat, providing them with an opportunity for exposure to the greater microbial pathogenesis community on campus and to receive feedback from the external scientists. Trainees also present important new discoveries in the Summer Journal Club. Initiated in 2013, the Clinical-Microbiology Combined Conference with the Infectious Disease Fellows in Medicine highlights the clinical manifestation of infectious diseases with mechanistic understanding of microbial virulence factors. Throughout the Training Grant’s history, the trainees have established a record of high impact publications and most are pursuing careers in areas of biomedical research and teaching. The various components of the Training Program clearly serve as the nexus of Microbial Pathogenesis on this campus. This Microbial Pathogenesis community at the University of Utah has grown substantially in recent years, further enhancing the environment of the supported T32 trainees.