# Combating Antibiotic Resistance Into the Next Generation (CARING)

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2021 · $427,360

## Abstract

This application requests a renewal of support for the UCSD “Research in Infectious Disease” T32 Training
Grant, with an updated scientific focus and leadership. The program, now in its 40th year, supports the career
development of physician scientists who wish to pursue research training in infectious diseases (ID) and host-
pathogen interactions. The goal of the T32 is to recruit trainees who wish to pursue rigorous research training
that will place them on the pathway to productive, independent research careers. Because of the complexity
of contemporary biomedical research and the highly competitive funding environment (especially for early
career research scientists). The high level of commitment to each trainee in terms of training duration and
intensity, coupled with the multidisciplinary character of the training experience has attracted outstanding
applicants and has enabled them to be extremely successful in progressing to the next stages of development
of careers as physician scientists. Based on a recently completed strategic planning process, we have devised
a new leadership structure, recruited new world class research faculty, kept successful educational and
training elements, while incorporating innovative new offerings -- all galvanized to address one of the greatest
challenges facing modern medicine and public health: the global antibiotic resistance crisis. Our renewal
proposal for Postdoctoral ID Training at UCSD, which we retitle “CARING: Combating Antibiotic Resistance
into the Next Generation” leverages the institutional investment and educational resources of a major campus-
wide initiative – the Collaborative to Halt Antibiotic-Resistant Microbes (CHARM). We retain core elements of
our training structure that have yielded excellent trainee outcomes, including recruitment and selection
processes that enlisted trainee cohorts with significant diversity from URM groups, unique T32 Fellow
educational curricula (e.g. the CREST program) and our Mentors-in-Development (MiD) program for junior
faculty. The fundamental change to our program is the AMR focus of research training, organized in 6 themes:
1) Deciphering Microbial Virulence; (2) Host Defense & Vaccinology, (3) Novel Therapeutic Discovery, (4)
Microbiome Science, (5) Systems Biology & Engineering, and (6) Clinical Microbiology & Therapeutics. We
have selected a world-class faculty the top 29 leading investigators with proven mentorship skills to comprise
our new Research Training faculty (12 continuing + 17 new). Instead of 6 MD fellow slots, we will recruit
talented Adult and Pediatric ID fellows across 5 MD slots + 2 PhD postdoctoral scientist slots to encourage
interdisciplinary synergies between clinical and basic scientists. Dr. Victor Nizet, an eminent UCSD ID
Physician-Scientist (>450 papers) with a superlative track record in postdoctoral fellow mentorship (>20
former trainees now independent faculty running research programs) assumes the role of Program Director...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10092374
- **Project number:** 2T32AI007036-41
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Victor Nizet
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $427,360
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1976-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10092374

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10092374, Combating Antibiotic Resistance Into the Next Generation (CARING) (2T32AI007036-41). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10092374. Licensed CC0.

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