# Childhood Infections Research Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · $322,401

## Abstract

The overall goal of the ‘Childhood Infections Research Program’ T32 (CHIRP) is to prepare MD Fellows and
PhD postdoctoral scientists for careers as investigators in basic and clinical / translational research related to
infections in children. The objectives of CHIRP are: 1) to identify the outstanding MD and PhD candidates
committed to a research career related to infections of children; 2) to support mentored research training with
experienced senior mentors and productive emerging mentors; 3) to implement a “career design by objective”
program that establishes individualized timelines and pathways for training and long-term career development;
4) to utilize courses and degree programs relevant to the individualized training plan; and 5) to incorporate novel
interdisciplinary training programs among MD and PhD trainees to create broad understanding of important
questions and issues in childhood infections. CHIRP has identified 23 senior mentors in Pediatric Infectious
Diseases, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology with sustained NIH funding coupled
with a successful track record of mentoring early career scholars. Also, we have selected 8 ‘emerging mentors’,
with funding and established trainees and productivity. Mentor research and training programs are in virology,
bacteriology, vaccines, hospital infections, epidemiology, outcomes, and global health. MD trainees will be
identified from Pediatric Infectious Diseases, other pediatric subspecialties and resident and recruitment. PhD
applicants will be identified by application of externally and internally recruited PhD candidates of CHIRP mentors
and broadly across Vanderbilt. A Program Director, Associate Directors, and Steering Committee of senior
mentors and experts in diversity will direct the selection and ongoing evaluation of trainees and program
progress. An Advisory Committee of three national leaders in Pediatric Infectious Diseases and diversity
initiatives will review and provide recommendations for changes and improvements, including approaches to
increase underrepresented minorities and women scholars. Evaluation of trainees will be based on required
scholarship oversight committees, individual development plans, trainee progress reports, and compliance with
requirements for training in responsible conduct of research and reproducibility. Ongoing program evaluation
has led to improvements including the advisory committee and a new monthly “T32-Club” for trainees with
discussions of RCR, reproducibility, diversity, research-in-progress, and trainee-selected topics relevant to
success and challenges of research careers. Long-term program success will be based on outcomes of trainees
in publications, career progress, and follow-on funding and will be assessed trainee evaluations and review by
steering committee and advisory committee. CHIRP has been highly successful in recruiting, mentoring and
establishing investigators in childhood infections, and we requ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10854908
- **Project number:** 5T32AI095202-15
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMES E CASSAT
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $322,401
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2011-08-01 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10854908

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10854908, Childhood Infections Research Program (5T32AI095202-15). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10854908. Licensed CC0.

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