# Training in Molecular Virology, Viral Pathogenesis and Viral Vectors

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 2022 · $126,067

## Abstract

Project Summary
The central objective of this Molecular Virology, Viral Pathogenesis and Viral Vectors Training Grant is to train
students in virology so that they can become productive members of the research community. The importance
of virology has been highlighted by reports of the morbidity and mortality caused by viruses long known to infect
humans as well as the emergence of zoonotic virus infections. Thus, there is an urgent need to continue
producing young scientists who are expert in virology. This training grant, which has trained students for 20
years, consists of trainers with interests in a variety of viruses and who are both junior and senior. Our focus is
on understanding fundamental aspects of human virology, with an emphasis on emerging virus infections and
viral pathogenesis and the development and use of viral vectors for gene delivery.
Students who were appointed to the training grant in the past have uniformly completed their Ph.D.s and stayed
in the life sciences. There are 18 trainers from several departments and interdisciplinary programs who serve as
faculty on this training grant. Their research interests range from the study of very basic processes in the
molecular and cellular biology of virus replication, to study of host immune responses to virus infection, to study
of the most efficient mechanisms for gene delivery by viruses. The training grant program is rigorous and
consists of a mixture of didactic courses, seminars, seminar courses which emphasize critical reading of the
literature and data presentation, and teaching opportunities. Trainees are provided feedback in several venues,
to hone their presentation and laboratory skills. Its interdisciplinary nature promotes interaction among students
and faculty interested in virology across the University of Iowa. By providing stipend support and travel funds
for graduate students, the training grant also facilitates exposure of our students to the national and international
virology community. Students selected for support by the training grant will have extra opportunities to teach
classes and to receive funding to attend an off-campus course in a cutting-edge technology, such as bio-
informatics. They will attend seminars at the University in which career options are discussed and will have the
opportunity to interact with visiting virologists. Issues of scientific integrity and data reproducibility are also
emphasized as part of the virology training grant. We also use the training grant as a mechanism for enhancing
racial, ethnic and socio-economic diversity as part of our selection process for trainees. In short, this training
grant has had many years of success and we will build upon this success. We continue to request funds for three
predoctoral graduate students per year, with support generally provided for two years between their second and
fourth years of study.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10329919
- **Project number:** 5T32AI007533-22
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **Principal Investigator:** Stanley Perlman
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $126,067
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1998-09-01 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10329919

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10329919, Training in Molecular Virology, Viral Pathogenesis and Viral Vectors (5T32AI007533-22). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10329919. Licensed CC0.

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