# Infectious Diseases and Microbial Immunology Post-doctoral Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $178,707

## Abstract

Project Summary
The landmark Institute of Medicine report, “Emerging Infections: Microbial Threats to Health in the United
States" highlighted the importance of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and improved control for
zoonotic infectious diseases in natural animal hosts—60% of all human pathogens are directly transmitted
from or emergent from animal reservoirs. Understanding the behavior of zoonotic pathogens, including
mechanisms of persistence, evolution of virulence, and genetic change underlying transmission
phenotypes, is now widely recognized as critically important to addressing emerging infections. In
addition, the importance of zoonotic pathogens and normal microbial flora of animals in emergence,
formation of reservoirs, and spread of antimicrobial resistance has been highlighted in recent reports by
both CDC and WHO.
This Post-doctoral Training Program specifically prepares a scientific workforce prepared to and capable
of addressing critical knowledge gaps in infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. The Training
Program focuses on the integrated training of two types of post-doctoral fellows: (i) clinically-trained
veterinarians with either residency training or a MPH (3-5 years post-DVM); and (ii) recent PhD graduates
with research experience in cell biology, genetics, epidemiology, immunology, or microbiology (0-2 years
post-PhD). Training for those who enter the program with DVM degrees is guided by two principles: (i) a
strong basic sciences foundation is indispensable and is attained with targeted coursework; and ii) a
minimum of 3 years of dedicated research is required to build the basis for career progression to
independence. Training for post-doctoral fellows with PhD degrees is tailored to their backgrounds but
emphasizes research directed at critical knowledge gaps in zoonotic infectious diseases and/or
antimicrobial resistance. In addition to education on the responsible conduct of research, all trainees
receive instruction on experimental design and data interpretation that generates rigorous and
reproducible results. As the Training Program recruits primarily entry-level post-doctoral fellows, 3 years
of fellowship commitment is required. This integration provides a dynamic training environment where
post-DVM fellows develop the basic research skills required to address and solve complex diseases while
post-PhD fellows develop specific expertise with microbial pathogens and a broader and deeper
understanding of the global health relevance and impact. Program data strongly supports that the Training
Program is addressing a significant gap with strong demand and preparing both types of entry level fellows
for successful careers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10843149
- **Project number:** 5T32AI007025-42
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Thomas H KAWULA
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $178,707
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1989-09-30 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10843149

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10843149, Infectious Diseases and Microbial Immunology Post-doctoral Training Program (5T32AI007025-42). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10843149. Licensed CC0.

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