Project Summary Infectious diseases remain the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although pathogens that have plagued humanity for years remain of great concern, emerging pathogens have the potential to cause major disruptions in society. The study of infectious diseases, including novel discoveries that can lead to prevention or cures, requires an in-depth understanding of both the host and the pathogen. Scientifically, this means the study of host responses to pathogens, which is the field of immunology, and pathogen strategies for causing disease, which is part of the field of microbiology. However, historically, immunology and microbiology research has proceeded to some degree along parallel paths. The intersection of these two disciplines is absolutely essential for making progress in the fight against infectious disease. This T32 Training Program, Immunology of Infectious Disease (IID), is designed to bridge the gap between microbiology and immunology research as it applies to infectious disease. Our goal is to train, mentor and support scientists working at the intersection of microbiology and immunology. We have a strong and experienced training faculty from a wide range of departments and schools at the University of Pittsburgh, with the unifying theme of research focused on the immunology of infectious disease. The IID Training Program supports pre-doctoral students from the Graduate Program in Microbiology and Immunology who are working in the laboratories of IID training faculty. Post-doctoral scholars from the labs of the IID training faculty are eligible for support. This IID T32 training program is dedicated to developing a diverse and well-trained cadre of scientists who are ready to take the next step in their careers to fulfill the broader scientific enterprise. In addition to mentoring and training support, we will provide training in rigor and reproducibility and responsible conduct of research and promote diversity within the training program. This cross-department, cross-school, cross-discipline training program has been successful for the past 15 years, and we have implemented changes to make it even more successful with this renewal application. We are proud of our past success and seek to build on these successes for the future.