This T32 training program with 5 post-doctoral trainees/year has been funded by NIAID since 1994 and takes advantage of the combined extensive allergy research activities in the La Jolla scientific community. The faculty members are from two neighboring institutes: University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LIAI). The program is open to MD's and Ph.D.'s interested in allergic/immunologic disease-oriented research and committed to a career in basic research applied to these clinical diseases. The trainees have opportunities to be exposed to a wide range of allergy research topics. In addition, the inter-institutional training program serves as a catalyst for promoting interactions and collaborations among researchers from different institutes. All 16 faculty members have well established NIH funded research programs;their research backgrounds are diverse and when taken together encompass genetics, immunology, biochemistry, cell biology, and molecular biology. Therefore, this training program represents an interdisciplinary approach. The trainees can be involved in the following research areas: 1) genetics and epigenetics, 2) biology of inflammatory cells, including mast cells and eosinophils;3) T cells;4) dendritic cells, 5) innate immune responses (TLRs, ILC2, NK cells) 6) cell receptors critically involved in allergic reactions;7) signal transduction;8) inflammatory mediators/cytokines;9) functions of epithelial cells;10) complement, and 11) endothelial adhesion. The goals of the program are 1) to foster the development of trainee's laboratory based investigative skills, in particular, applying molecular and cellular biological approaches to study mechanisms of allergic diseases, and 2) to mentor trainees to successfully compete for either independent research grants and faculty positions, or research positions in biotechnology. The trainees are expected to devote over 90% effort to research, and training will be supplemented by conferences, seminars, journal clubs and courses. Upon completion of the program trainees will have developed a solid background in the molecular and cellular mechanisms of allergic inflammation and become qualified and confident in embarking upon their careers as independent investigators in allergy research.

Public Health Relevance

Allergic diseases such as asthma, sinus allergy, and food allergy are very common and affect over 20% of the population of the United States. This training grant will train physicians and PhD researchers to perform research on allergic patients to identify better ways of diagnosing and treating allergic diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
Project #
2T32AI007469-21
Application #
8748187
Study Section
Transplantation Biology &Immunology-2 (AITC)
Program Officer
Prograis, Lawrence J
Project Start
1994-09-30
Project End
2019-06-30
Budget Start
2014-07-01
Budget End
2015-06-30
Support Year
21
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Diego
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
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Eastman, Jacqueline J; Cavagnero, Kellen J; Deconde, Adam S et al. (2017) Group 2 innate lymphoid cells are recruited to the nasal mucosa in patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease. J Allergy Clin Immunol 140:101-108.e3

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