# Animal Models of Infectious Diseases Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · 2024 · $182,019

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
This is a competitive renewal application for continuing support of a predoctoral training program at UC Davis
focused on research using Animal Models of Infectious Diseases (AMID). The AMID Training Program, launched
in 2004, takes advantage of the unique resources at UC Davis, where we have co-localized on one campus the
Graduate School, Schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, the California National Primate Research
Center, the internationally renowned Mouse Biology Program, and the Center for Immunology and Infectious
Diseases— creating a unique training environment that arguably exists nowhere else in the world. During the
previous funding period, using this NIH grant and UC Davis matching support, we supported a group of 21
students who were mentored by 14 different faculty trainers, and included 11 (52%) women trainees, 3 students
in combined DVM/PhD or MD/PhD programs, and 6 (29%) trainees from URM groups. The success of the AMID
Program during the past funding period is best highlighted by the accomplishments of the 21 students, which
include authoring an average of 3.1 papers from their UC Davis graduate work (many in high impact journals,
including Nature, Science, and Cell Press), receiving predoctoral fellowships and awards, and advancing to
prestigious postdoctoral positions. Long-term success of the AMID program is also evident, as 8 of our past
trainees now have Assistant or Associate Professor positions at major research Universities and others have
equivalent leadership positions in industry. In addition, the AMID program has fueled collaborative research,
enhanced student mentorship, provided campus-enriching seminars, and resulted in research grants to several
participating faculty. This training program also spurred the development of several campus initiatives, including
an interdisciplinary graduate program (equivalent to a minor) called the Designated Emphasis in Host-Microbe
Interaction, two new graduate course offerings, enhanced pedagogy of responsible conduct of research, and
new initiatives to encourage URM applications to our graduate programs. We request continued support of four
predoctoral trainees per year, which will be supplemented by institutional funds to support three additional
trainees. This Training Program addresses a critical need and we expect continued success of the AMID
Program, with a large and diverse pool of prospective trainees; enthusiastic program directors; an expanded
group of training faculty that is increasingly accomplished and gender balanced; and a research community
operating in an ideal environment for studies on animal models of human infectious diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10857259
- **Project number:** 5T32AI060555-19
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS
- **Principal Investigator:** STEPHEN J MCSORLEY
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $182,019
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2004-09-01 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10857259

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10857259, Animal Models of Infectious Diseases Training Program (5T32AI060555-19). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10857259. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*