ThisT32applicationseekssupportforaGraduateResearchinImmunologyProgram(GRIP)attheUniversity ofTexasHealthScienceCenterSanAntonio(UTHealthSA).GRIPwilltrainthreePhD,DDS/PhDandMD/PhD studentsperyearforsuccessfulcareersinacademia,industryorgovernment.Itintegratestheresearchactivities of the UT Long School of Medicine basic science and clinical departments/centers, which includes the NCI- Designated UT Health MD Anderson Cancer Center SA, the NIH/CTSA-supported UT Health Institute for IntegrationofMedicineandScience(UTIIMS),aswellasthelocalaffiliateTexasBiomedicalResearchInstitute and UT System sister institution University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA). With a strong biomedical research presence, an emerging biotech industry and the greatest countrywide concentration of military biomedical activities,SanAntonio,naturalcapitalofSouthTexas,completes,withDallasandHouston,theTexasbiomedical triangle. The home to GRIP will be the UT Long School of Medicine Dept. of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics (MIMG), an academic, scientific and administrative structure promoting, fostering and integrating research and training in molecular and cell mechanisms of innate and adaptive immunity, B and T cell biology, antibody gene expression and epigenetics, immunology of aging, autoimmunity, microbial pathogenesis and cancer immunology. GRIP will be led by the new MIMG chairman, Dr. Paolo Casali, a renownedimmunologist,accomplishedgraduateeducatorandformerdirectorofNIHgraduatetrainingprograms inimmunology.GRIPcountsonthecontributionof32preceptors,manyofthemleadersintheirfields,5support facultyand6facultycareeradvisorsfromMIMGandotherdepartments.ItwillbenefitfromanExternalAdvisory Board of well-known immunologists. GRIP trainees will be selected from a diverse and outstanding pool of studentswithinanexistingImmunology-focusedPh.D.program.TheuniqueUTHealthSAenvironmentprovides a natural incubator for translational research training. Thus, GRIP provides enriched training opportunities throughaTranslationalSciencesCertificateProgram,andprovidesanIndividualizedDevelopmentPlanforeach trainee,strongResponsibleConductofResearchmentoring,athoroughProgressEvaluationPlanandaccess to a robust Office of Career Development. UT Health SA, a Department of Education-Designated Hispanic- ServingInstitution,hasdevelopedaggressiveoutreachprogramstoattractunderrepresentedminoritystudents (URMs). URM Trainees have been critical to UT Health SA success and will be an integral part of GRIP. UT Health SA institutional commitment for GRIP is strong, providing 10% salary support to the Program Director, matchingsupportforanadditional4thtrainingslot,andsignificantstipendsupplementalsupportforeachtrainee. Thus, by leveraging existing local strengths, GRIP will provide individualized and multidisciplinary training for graduatestudentstobecomeleadersindiverseandevolvingbiomedicalfields.

Public Health Relevance

WeareseekingsupportforaGraduateResearchinImmunityProgram(GRIP)toTrainPh.D.,D.D.S./Ph.D.and M.D./Ph.D. Students for Successful Careers in Academia, Industry or Government at the University of Texas HealthScienceCenterSanAntonio(UTHealthSA).TheoverallgoalofGRIPistotrainimmunologistswhowill become leaders in evolving biomedical fields of tomorrow, thereby furthering UT Health SA?s long standing missiontoprovideanindividualized,diverseandmultidisciplinarylearningenvironmentforsuccessfulgraduate students.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
Project #
5T32AI138944-03
Application #
9948577
Study Section
Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation Research Committee (AITC)
Program Officer
Gondre-Lewis, Timothy A
Project Start
2018-08-13
Project End
2023-07-31
Budget Start
2020-08-01
Budget End
2021-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Health Science Center
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800772162
City
San Antonio
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78229