Research Training in Immunology and Infectious Diseases

描述(申请人提供)：传染病对美国和世界各地的公众健康构成重大威胁。禽流感等呼吸道病毒有可能发展成大流行，并导致数百万人死亡。细菌病原体正在对当前的抗生素产生抗药性，导致重大流行病。新出现的病原体，如人类免疫缺陷病毒，在世界许多国家猖獗，造成毁灭性后果。此外，还有一种威胁，即传染性物质将被发展为生物恐怖武器。为了迎接这一挑战，需要培训有创造力的年轻科学家，使他们能够将基础分子和细胞免疫学与传染病研究结合起来。这项拟议的培训计划的目标是培养合格的新研究人员，能够在传染病免疫学方面建立强有力的独立研究计划。特鲁多研究所是一个理想的培训环境，提供了接触世界级科学家的合作小组的机会，这些科学家在各种成熟的传染病模型中开展了积极的项目。该研究所的研究重点是通过对免疫系统功能的深入机械性理解来解决传染病免疫学中的挑战性问题。培训人员是传染病免疫学领域资金充足、经验丰富的研究人员，并拥有广泛的出版记录。重要的是，特鲁多研究所在培训成功的年轻调查人员方面有着良好的记录。培训计划的基础是以实验室为基础的密集研究，这将促进研究战略设计的创造性方法，并鼓励批判性分析思维。学员将有机会通过成熟的机构核心获得最先进的研究技术，包括流式细胞术、分子生物学和成像。此外，该研究所还为研究各种传染病提供了现代化的实验室和动物空间。受训人员从研究所高度协作的环境中受益匪浅。作为该计划的组成部分，受训人员将定期参加机构和外部演讲者举办的研讨会，定期在特鲁多研究所以及区域和国家会议上介绍他们的研究成果，将获得撰写补助金的经验，并将获得管理和指导来访的大学暑期学生研究项目的经验。培训期为3年。作为这一广泛和全面的培训计划的结果，受训人员将在免疫学和传染病方面建立成功的、独立的研究生涯。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Infectious diseases pose a major threat to public health both in the United States and world-wide. Respiratory viruses such as avian influenza have the potential to develop pandemics and kill millions of people. Bacterial pathogens are developing resistance to current antibiotics, resulting in major epidemics. Newly emerging pathogens such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus are rampant in many countries of the world with devastating consequences. In addition, there is the threat that infectious agents will be developed as bioterrorist weapons. In order to meet this challenge there is a need for the training of creative young scientists capable of integrating basic molecular and cellular immunology with infectious disease research. The goal of this proposed Training Program is to produce well-qualified new investigators capable of establishing vigorous independent research programs in infectious disease immunology. Trudeau Institute is an ideal training environment, providing access to a collaborative group of world class scientists with active programs in a variety of well-developed infectious disease models. The research emphasis at the Institute is to address challenging problems in the immunology of infectious disease through a deep mechanistic understanding of the functioning of the immune system. The training faculty are well-funded, established investigators in the field of infectious disease immunology and have an extensive publication record. Importantly, Trudeau Institute has an excellent track record in the training of successful young investigators. The foundation of the training program is intensive laboratory-based research that will foster a creative approach to the design of research strategies and encourage critical analytical thinking. Trainees will have access to state of the art research technologies through the well-developed Institutional cores, including flow cytometry, molecular biology and imaging. In addition, the Institute provides modern laboratory and animal space for studying a variety of infectious diseases. The trainees benefit greatly from the highly collaborative environment at the Institute. As an integral part of the program, the trainees will attend regular seminars by Institutional and external speakers, will regularly present their research both at the Trudeau Institute and at regional and national meetings, will acquire experience in grant writing, and will acquire experience in management and directing the research projects of visiting college summer students. The training period will be 3 years in length. As a result of this extensive and well-rounded training program, trainees will be positioned to establish successful, independent research careers in immunology and infectious disease.