PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Inflammatory Responses (CMPHIR: P20-GM103625) was established at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in 2012. The underlying scientific theme is that addressing existing and emerging problems in infectious disease in a clinically relevant fashion will require an understanding of both the pathogens themselves and how they impact the host immunological and inflammatory response. This theme is based on the premise that understanding the complex interplay between diverse pathogens and their common human host is a prerequisite to maximizing opportunities to manipulate one or both sides of this equation in favor of the desired prophylactic and/or therapeutic outcome. In Phases I and II, we assembled a critical mass of investigators around this scientific theme and provided them with the administrative and technical resources they needed to establish successful scientific careers. In Phase III, we will refine and expand on these efforts with the overall goal of building on our success in Phases I and II to establish a self-sustaining Center of Biomedical Research Excellence that focuses on infectious diseases in a comprehensive and clinically relevant fashion. To this end, the specific aims of this Phase III application are to: 1) provide an infrastructure that maximizes the competitiveness of CMPHIR investigators through the support of essential core facilities; 2) promote continued growth of the CMPHIR and career development of its investigators; and 3) transition the CMPHIR to a nationally recognized, self-sustaining Center of Biomedical Research Excellence with the expertise and resources to address existing and emerging problems in infectious disease.