PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT This new application from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) seeks support for a Program in Immunology Research and Entrepreneurship (PIRE) to train postdoctoral fellows in immunology with an emphasis on translation, biomedical innovation and entrepreneurship. The program seeks to address the need to empower our future immunology research workforce with the competence necessary to commercialize scientific discoveries. Disease-related themes that are central to this program are innate immune mechanisms, immunity to infection, alloimmunity (organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant), autoimmunity, and cancer immunity. The Program Mentor Faculty consist of an interdisciplinary group of 14 investigators with established training records who are committed to research and research training of postdoctoral trainees within the area of inflammation and immunity. The proposed grant will support 2 fellows in the first year and 4 per year thereafter to standardize recruitment efforts and provide a steady flow of new trainees. The core training for PIRE fellows is the research experience in the laboratory setting complemented by specialized training in entrepreneurship, using the following components: (1) mentoring through the engagement of an Individual Development Plan for Entrepreneurship (IDPE) Committee;; (2) laboratory training including use of mass cytometry, a potentially transforming technology for cellular immunology research;; (3) didactic training in biomedical commercialization and entrepreneurship;; (4) experiential training by conducting an internship with MUSC’s technology transfer office;; (5) participation in activities (seminar series, journal club, scientific retreat) sponsored by the Department of Microbiology and Immunology;; (6) instruction in the responsible conduct of research;; (7) instruction in methods for enhancing reproducibility;; and (8) use of a virtual “trainee career toolkit” that includes grantsmanship, teaching and career planning. Recruitment of postdoctoral trainees will be carried out on a national basis with an explicit goal of recruiting women and minority postdoctoral trainees to address significant disparities in entrepreneurial participation as well as biomedical and immunology research. The Program Director will be assisted by an Associate Program Director, administrative coordinator, Program Steering Committee and External Advisory Board to ensure effective administration, management, and evaluation of the program and guide future direction.