# Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $322,479

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
This proposal is a request for continued funding of an institutional pre- and postdoctoral NRSA Training
Program in Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis at the medical school of Northwestern University which
has been funded since 1996. Predoctoral training will be done in conjunction with the Driskill Graduate
Program (DGP). The DGP will be the mechanism for recruitment of a pool of highly qualified graduate
students from which candidates will be selected. The training program is also supported by the Northwestern
Office for Postdoctoral Affairs and Immunobiology Center. The training program, unique among the training
programs at Northwestern, will stress the basic mechanisms and interactive nature of immunology,
microbiology, and pathogenesis and the collaboration of colleagues. The program includes 32 highly
productive researchers experienced in pre- and postdoctoral training who collectively hold >36 million dollars
per year in research funding and who can impart both basic and clinical perspectives to a group of outstanding
trainees. The result will be a more productive research environment, both for the pre- and postdoctoral
students and for the many projects funded by grants from the NIH and other federal and private agencies. A
major research-in-progress event, IMP Day, will highlight before the entire community the accomplishments of
the trainees. Feedback received at this event will be another way of enhancing the experience of our trainees.
The training grant also proposes to foster trainee interactions with scientists at other institutions through trainee
travel to national meetings (to present their research and to develop contacts) and through visits of prominent
scientists to Northwestern as trainee-invited speakers. The training program also serves to focus the activities
at the University aimed at educating students in the ethics of science and at recruiting underrepresented
minorities to studies in immunology, microbiology, and molecular pathogenesis. There will be continuous
evaluation of the program using multiple mechanisms, including evaluations by the trainees, the tracking of the
productivity, funding support, and career development of former trainees, and Internal Advisory Committee,
and an External Advisory Committee that consists of leaders from outside the institution. The program
requests maintaining the current four predoctoral and two postdoctoral slots. Predoctoral students will be
appointed for a 2-year period at the end of the second year of graduate studies after they have completed their
coursework and qualifying exams and have identified a research advisor, while postdoctoral candidates will be
appointed at the outset of their training for a 1-year period while they apply for independent funding. Refunding
of the program will give training in immunology, microbiology, and molecular pathogenesis at Northwestern the
continuity required to maintain the momentum gained during the previou...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10198663
- **Project number:** 5T32AI007476-25
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** NICHOLAS P CIANCIOTTO
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $322,479
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1996-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10198663

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10198663, Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis Training Program (5T32AI007476-25). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10198663. Licensed CC0.

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