Academic Pediatric Infectious Disease

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ABSTRACT The objective of our University of Washington's (UW) Pediatric Infectious Diseases (PID) Training Program (TP) is to train future research leaders in infectious diseases of children. Our TP (1) recruits experienced and committed pediatricians and researchers; (2) trains them in molecular, genomic, proteomic, bioinformatic, and epidemiologic methods, and (3) mentors them to develop and lead an independent research program. We request the renewal of T32 support to train four trainees in research annually. Initially, each pediatrician fellow engages in 12 months of clinical training (for PID certification), supported by Seattle Children's Hospital (SCH). Subsequently, the T32 will support each for 2 years of mentored research by Training Faculty (TF) who are leaders in their areas of research and excel at mentorship. Trainees and TF are encouraged to tackle projects that contribute novel and critical insights into understanding and treating pediatric infectious diseases and generate preliminary data for a K, R, or other awards. In addition, trainees receive didactic and hands-on education in the federal regulations governing research with humans and/or animals, grant and manuscript preparation, and strategies to succeed in academia. Our curriculum includes a structured timeline to transition to “K”-series NIH awards, and if needed, our department extends support to assist trainees in this transition. Our NIH T32-supported UW-PID-FP has trained 102 fellows since 1981, with a consistent record of developing research leaders in Maternal-Child Health (Figure 1, Program Plan). During the past 15 years, 30 fellows have successfully completed our TP, 1 transferred to a different TP, 1 withdrew from training, 7 are current fellows, and 1 incoming fellow will begin in July 2022. As of May 2022, of the 30 TP graduates from the past 15 years, 15 (50%) have been awarded Ks. Of the graduates completing our TP more than 5 years ago (and therefore at the stage one would progress to NIH R-level funding), 6/20 (30%) have received Rs. Biomedical research continues to be a primary focus of 19/30 (63%) graduates from the last 15 years: 16 lead academic labs (PIs of R, K or foundation grants), 1 is a lead researcher within a government institutions with intramural funds, 1 is an industry researcher, and 1 is a university biology professor teaching undergraduates and performing research. The remaining 11/34 (37%) include: 8 clinician educators at academic hospitals where they participate in research, and 3 clinical infectious disease specialists. Of our 7 current fellows and 1 new fellow entering in July 2022, 5 have submitted ≥1 applications for NIH, government, and/or foundation grants; 2 received awards, 1 awaits notice of award, and 2 have pending applications. Among our current fellows and recent graduates (N=38) from the past 15 years, 6 (16%) are under-represented-minorities (URM) or from NIH-defined disadvantaged groups in health sciences. In 2022, two fellows will complete fellowship and both will continue as faculty at UW.