# Postdoctoral Training Program in AIDS-related Research

> **NIH NIH T32** · DANA-FARBER CANCER INST · 2021 · $353,366

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
On a global basis, 36.7 million people live with HIV. In 2016, 1.8 million new HIV infections were reported, a
rate of ~5,000 per day, and one million people died of AIDS. Although new HIV infections began to decline in
1997, AIDS-related deaths continued to increase until 2004. Since that time, both new infections and deaths
have abated due to anti-retroviral therapy (ART). However, there is a large disparity between those with and
without access to ART. Currently, the most adversely affected areas remain in eastern and southern Africa
where a disproportionate number (~53%) of people worldwide live with HIV. HIV infections in the Middle East,
North Africa and Asia continue to increase, as do some vulnerable US populations. HIV/AIDS remains a global
health issue and AIDS-related illnesses are a leading cause of death globally. Therefore, more broadly-based,
targeted, and innovative therapies including broad-spectrum prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines, broadly
neutralizing antibody-based immunotherapeutics, and cure strategies are required for universal application.
Major clinical advances to the treatment of HIV/AIDS have come from basic research findings in academia,
including those from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, and its affiliated institutions. The
number of young scientists with expertise in immunology, virology, and the application of these disciplines to
AIDS-related research remains limited so there is a significant need at the national level to train the next
generation of scientific leaders. These primary considerations led to the development of this training program
in 1990. The program is supported by a renowned group of 13 faculty mentors comprised of leading
investigators in immunology, virology, and related fields. The goal of this application is to identify and train 5
postdoctoral research fellows over a two-year period as the next generation of scientists to make fundamental
discoveries in immunology and virology, using advanced approaches with potential application to the
development of novel therapeutics, and to promote thought leaders as well as innovative scientists who will
advance new therapeutic concepts. This Program will provide the opportunity to train a new cadre of young
scientists in a collegial, collaborative, and cohesive institutional community to be well-versed in both basic and
clinical sciences, who will focus on cutting-edge scientific inquiry while developing interactive and career
development skills. The successful outcome of this training program will provide a critical springboard for the
development of our next generation of independent research scientists who will dedicate themselves to AIDS-
related research. In this resubmission, we describe the progress and achievements of trainees who have
completed this program, revise the list of faculty mentors, and outline objectives for the program over the next
five years.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10134191
- **Project number:** 5T32AI007386-28
- **Recipient organization:** DANA-FARBER CANCER INST
- **Principal Investigator:** HARVEY CANTOR
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $353,366
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1990-08-01 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10134191

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10134191, Postdoctoral Training Program in AIDS-related Research (5T32AI007386-28). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10134191. Licensed CC0.

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