Vermont Immunobioloigy/ Infectious Diseases Center

本申请提出了佛蒙特大学（UVM）佛蒙特免疫学和传染病中心（VCIID）第二阶段COBRE的延续。在第一阶段COBRE期间，我们创建了一个由科学家和临床医生组成的多学科小组，开展微生物发病机制和感染免疫反应的合作研究。第一阶段的重点是实现科学卓越，同时在充满活力和严谨的氛围中建立一个临界质量的研究人员。其中一个重要组成部分是对5名原来的初级教员的指导，他们都获得了校外资助，发表了许多出版物和获奖，其中4人得到了晋升。在第一阶段的最后两年，我们还额外招募了5名初级教师。这5名新教师中已经有4名获得了一些校外资助。此外，VCIID-COBRE还为基因组技术/生物信息学、蛋白质组学、外部专家系列研讨会、每周一次的研究进展论坛、务修会、试点项目资助、科学问题、拨款写作和职业发展研讨会等核心提供支持。由于这些项目，VCIID在第一阶段从9个创始教师发展到4个学院8个部门的21个教师，发表了213篇论文（49篇来自初级教师），获得了47,694,003美元的资助，不包括COBRE（8,818,374美元来自初级教师），并被UVM医学院认可为五个卓越中心之一。

This application proposes the Phase II COBRE continuation of the Vermont Center for Immunology and Infectious Diseases (VCIID) at the University of Vermont (UVM). During the Phase I COBRE period we created a multidisciplinary group of scientists and clinicians undertaking collaborative research in microbial pathogenesis and the immune response to infections. The keystone of Phase I was to achieve scientific excellence while building a critical mass of investigators in a vibrant and rigorous atmosphere. A significant component of this was the mentoring of 5 original junior faculty, all of whom obtained extramural funding, had numerous publications and awards, and 4 of 5 have been promoted. We also recruited 5 additional junior faculty in the final two years of Phase I. Already 4 of these 5 new faculty have obtained some extramural funding. In addition, the VCIID-COBRE provided support for cores in Genome Technologies/Bioinformatics, Proteomics, a seminar series of outside experts, a weekly Research-in- Progress forum, retreats, pilot project funding, and workshops on scientific issues, grant writing, and career development. As a result of these programs the VCIID grew during Phase I from 9 founding faculty to 21 faculty in 8 departments in 4 colleges, with 213 publications (49 from junior faculty), $47,694,003 in funding, without the COBRE ($8,818,374 from junior faculty), and recognition by the UVM College of Medicine as one of the five Centers of Excellence. During Phase II we will continue several of the above successful programs but modify them toward directing the faculty toward becoming a highly interactive group in a mature Center with collaborative grants and sustainability. The new 5 junior faculty will continue their projects for 1-4 additional years. Two senior faculty we be recruited to fill gaps in our intellectual repertoire, one in mucosal immunology to enhance our new Vaccine Trials Center, and the second in chronic infection/inflammation-induced cancer to broaden our thinking to the implications of chronic infectious conditions. Cores will be continued in Genome Technologies/Bioinformatics and Proteomics, with the addition of a new BSL3 facility core to accommodate the growing needs of VCIID investigators desiring to study BSL3 agents. Also in this area, we will form a unique partnership among the VCIID, UVM, and the Vermont Department of Health in which the State will build a new Department of Health laboratory building on the UVM campus attached to our research building containing the BSL3 facility. This will provide space for an expanded joint BSL3 facility to include animal and select agent use. These endeavors will position us to be competitive for new POI and U19 category grants.