# Training Grant in Inflammatory and Fibrosing Diseases

> **NIH NIH T32** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2021 · $130,945

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
This renewal application seeks support for our well-established T32 postdoctoral research training program in
basic, translational and clinical investigations of rheumatic and autoimmune diseases and the significant health
disparities associated with these diseases. The Research Training Program in Inflammatory and Fibrosing
Diseases is centered in the Rheumatology Division at the Medical University of South Carolina. The program's
ultimate goal is to improve the healthcare and outcomes for individuals with rheumatic diseases in the
southeastern United States. Our training program emphasizes the interrelationship between inflammation and
fibrosis and how these biologic processes impact end organ function such as renal disease in lupus and lung
disease in scleroderma. The participating faculty members have particular strengths and existing collaborations
in areas of health outcomes and community-based research, epidemiology of rheumatic diseases, health
disparities, gene/environment interactions, innate immunity and adoptive immunotherapy, lupus nephritis,
signaling pathways leading to fibrosis, matrix proteins, scleroderma lung disease, and disease biomarkers.
Trainees matriculate to 1 of 3 research tracks: Bench Research Track for Clinicians, Clinical Investigator Track
including a Master of Science in Clinical Research degree, and Translational Research Track for Non-Clinicians.
The program's structure helps trainees gain critical skills for sustained careers in academic medicine in a flexible
framework that accommodates a diverse range of prior education/experience and multiple modes of investigation
focused on the programmatic theme. Established in 2005, with NIAMS T32 support for 3 cycles (2005-2021),
this program has graduated 21 postdoctoral fellows to date: 19 females, 2 males including 4 underrepresented
minority (URM) fellows; 9 MD, 2 MD/PhD, 10 PhD. Collectively, they published 135 peer-reviewed publications
(89 first authored) based on their research training. Currently, 13 remain in academic research, 3 in clinical
practice, 3 in industry research, and 1 in the nonprofit sector. We propose 16 Primary Mentors and 6 Emerging
Mentors of which 3 are URMs. For the coming year, 3 fellows will be appointed: 1 female PhD and two female
rheumatology fellows (1 Med/Peds fellow). The current application requests continued support for 3 fellowship
positions. Fellows will be on the research training grant for 2 years with an option for a 3rd year if justified based
on productivity and potential. Application numbers for our fellowship program have doubled over the last 5 years
due to increased interest in rheumatology as well as national recognition of our program's excellence. The
Program Steering Committee will review and approve the selection and annual re-appointment based on specific
criteria, evaluation data and slot availability with input from the External Advisory Committee. In this renewal, our
research areas have expanded into ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10205656
- **Project number:** 2T32AR050958-16
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** Gary S Gilkeson
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $130,945
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2005-07-01 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10205656

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10205656, Training Grant in Inflammatory and Fibrosing Diseases (2T32AR050958-16). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10205656. Licensed CC0.

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