# Interdisciplinary Training Program in Immunology

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · 2022 · $428,347

## Abstract

This Interdisciplinary Training Program in Immunology (ITP) at the University of Virginia (UVA) provides
comprehensive support for the development of predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees as the next generation of
Immunology research scientists. It is based in a group of 32 outstanding faculty, whose research programs are
centered in Immunology, but oriented towards infectious disease, cancer, autoimmunity, allergic disease,
inflammation, immune system development, vascular biology, or neuroscience. They are from 7 University
Departments and 6 Divisions of the Dept of Medicine, creating a rich interdisciplinary research environment
where trainees are exposed to a range of ideas and cutting-edge technologies, augmented by the highly collegial
and collaborative environment of UVA. Trainees and mentors are brought into contact through their involvement
in activities supported by the ITP, including courses, workshops, seminars, Research-In-Progress presentations,
and advisory committees. The ITP structure overcomes traditional departmental barriers by establishing cross-
disciplinary interest in trainee activities and oversight of trainee performance and progress. The organization of
graduate recruiting at UVA also supports this interdisciplinary approach, while at the same time increasing the
visibility of Immunology as a Research Discipline to enhance our ability to attract outstanding applicants.
Recognizing the inherently translational orientation of contemporary Immunology and the central importance of
the immune system in many human pathologies, the structure and activities of the UVA ITP are also designed
to bridge the gap between basic and clinical science. The mentors include a strong cohort of translational/clinical
scientists who move work in animal models into patient settings and engage in trainee-related activities that
expose PhD-based graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to clinical problems. Conversely, we support an
MD postdoctoral fellow to develop the next generation of Physician-Scientists who will address questions in
human Immunology at a basic level. Over the last 26 years, the UVA ITP has recruited an outstanding group of
both pre- and postdoctoral trainees, including a strong cohort of trainees from disadvantaged groups, and has
propelled them towards productive careers as research scientists. To continue this record of achievement, we
request support for 6 predoctoral trainees, selected from a group of highly qualified first year graduate students
who have already been highly scrutinized during initial recruitment into our umbrella Biomedical Sciences (BIMS)
graduate program. We also request support for 2 postdoctoral trainees. They may hold a PhD, and be selected
based on the excellence of their graduate student work, and their demonstrated commitment and productivity
during an initial year of postdoctoral research. Alternatively, they may be Physician-Scientists, highly dedicated
to a career in academic medicine, ch...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10477414
- **Project number:** 5T32AI007496-27
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael G. Brown
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $428,347
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1995-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10477414

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10477414, Interdisciplinary Training Program in Immunology (5T32AI007496-27). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10477414. Licensed CC0.

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