This is a request for continued funding to support a connprehensive predoctoral NRSA Training Program in Viral Replication at Northwestern University. The goal of this program is to train highly motivated students to be independent investigators in the areas of Viral Replication. Diseases caused by viral infection remain major health problems and new emerging viruses such as SARS, West Nile, monkeypox, bird flu, and Ebola have created significant concerns in the health community worldwide. In addition, the threat of using viral agents for bioterrorism has recently become a reality. Given the significance of these health issues and the potential threat of bioterrorism, virology continues to be an important area for study and the training of young scientists in the field of virology is of high priority. Northwestern has major research and training strengths in the areas of virology and this proposal seeks to expand the training program for predoctoral students by obtaining funding from the NIAD for a Viral Replication Training Grant (VRTG). Ail VRTG students will receive formal coursework and training in fundamental aspects of virology, as well as exposure to the vast body of research on cell and molecular biology. Students will also receive formal training in allied fields including genetics, developmental biology, biochemistry and biophysics. While VRTG students come from three graduate programs and perform their thesis research in a variety of laboratories, they will share common experiences in the coursework, seminar programs, symposia, research meetings and career development forums that comprise the VRTG training program. In addition, students in the Medical Scientist Training Program who are in the graduate research phase of their training will aiso be eligible for support. The training program will be directed by a Steering/Education Committee with responsibilities for selection of high caliber candidates, tracking progress of trainees in the program and providing mentoring for new faculty members in the training of students. The program requests four predoctoral slots per year.

Public Health Relevance

Viral infections continue to cause significant disease with the the human population. Emerging viruses such as SARS, West Nile, monkey pox, and Ebola and the threat ofthe use of viruses as agents of bioterrorism create substantial need for the training of young scientists who are well versed in the basics of viral replication. This is the goal ofthe current Viral Replication Training Program (VRTG) at Northwestern.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
Project #
5T32AI060523-10
Application #
8485507
Study Section
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases B Subcommittee (MID)
Program Officer
Robbins, Christiane M
Project Start
2004-09-01
Project End
2014-08-31
Budget Start
2013-09-01
Budget End
2014-08-31
Support Year
10
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$152,798
Indirect Cost
$8,714
Name
Northwestern University at Chicago
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
005436803
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60611
Mandhana, Roli; Horvath, Curt M (2018) Sendai Virus Infection Induces Expression of Novel RNAs in Human Cells. Sci Rep 8:16815
Au-Yeung, Nancy; Horvath, Curt M (2018) Histone H2A.Z Suppression of Interferon-Stimulated Transcription and Antiviral Immunity Is Modulated by GCN5 and BRD2. iScience 6:68-82
Fish, Kamonwan; Sora, Richard P; Schaller, Samantha J et al. (2017) EBV latent membrane protein 2A orchestrates p27kip1 degradation via Cks1 to accelerate MYC-driven lymphoma in mice. Blood 130:2516-2526
Wilcox, Douglas R; Longnecker, Richard (2016) The Herpes Simplex Virus Neurovirulence Factor ?34.5: Revealing Virus-Host Interactions. PLoS Pathog 12:e1005449
Wilcox, Douglas R; Folmsbee, Stephen S; Muller, William J et al. (2016) The Type I Interferon Response Determines Differences in Choroid Plexus Susceptibility between Newborns and Adults in Herpes Simplex Virus Encephalitis. MBio 7:e00437-16
Song, Albert S; Poor, Taylor A; Abriata, Luciano A et al. (2016) Immobilization of the N-terminal helix stabilizes prefusion paramyxovirus fusion proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:E3844-51
Allen, Shannon A; Carias, Ann M; Anderson, Meegan R et al. (2015) Characterization of the Influence of Semen-Derived Enhancer of Virus Infection on the Interaction of HIV-1 with Female Reproductive Tract Tissues. J Virol 89:5569-80
Wilcox, Douglas R; Muller, William J; Longnecker, Richard (2015) HSV targeting of the host phosphatase PP1? is required for disseminated disease in the neonate and contributes to pathogenesis in the brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112:E6937-44
Huffmaster, Nicholas J; Sollars, Patricia J; Richards, Alexsia L et al. (2015) Dynamic ubiquitination drives herpesvirus neuroinvasion. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112:12818-23
Langsfeld, Erika S; Bodily, Jason M; Laimins, Laimonis A (2015) The Deacetylase Sirtuin 1 Regulates Human Papillomavirus Replication by Modulating Histone Acetylation and Recruitment of DNA Damage Factors NBS1 and Rad51 to Viral Genomes. PLoS Pathog 11:e1005181

Showing the most recent 10 out of 40 publications