# Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Research Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · 2020 · $146,885

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis (IMP) Training Program of the Weill Cornell Graduate School of
Medical Sciences takes advantage of the breadth and depth of basic and clinical research talent among the
component institutions [Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
(MSKCC), and The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS)] to provide a unique environment in which we strive to
train the next generation of leaders in immunology and microbial pathogenesis. Graduate students are
exposed to cutting edge immunology and infectious disease research ranging from basic biochemical studies
to clinical trials of immunotherapies that grew out of basic research in IMP Program laboratories. Each
component institution has particular strengths to lend to the training: Inflammation and infectious disease
(WCMC), tumor immunology (MSKCC), and autoimmunity (HSS). However, the Program has been so
successful in fostering tri-institutional interactions and collaborations among the faculty and trainees, that there
is substantial overlapping expertise among these institutions. The graduate program leading to a Ph.D. degree
is open to students who hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, as well as to individuals who
already hold an advanced degree and wish to train for an independent academic research career in IMP.
Acceptance into the IMP Program is based on college GPA and GRE scores, research experience, letters of
recommendation, and personal interviews. We have special programs in place to recruit underrepresented and
underserved minorities. Predoctoral trainees are required to take a core curriculum in Immunology and related
biomedical sciences prior to joining a thesis lab, and soon thereafter to pass a rigorous Admission to
Candidacy exam. To keep up with the demands of analyzing “big data” sets, all students are required to
participate in a Quantitative Biology course and are offered hands-on computer workshops. Graduate studies
take 5.6 years in average to complete. Graduate students also actively participate in Research-in-Progress
seminars, the IMP Retreat, Advanced Topics in Immunology courses, and external speaker seminars.
Progress of the IMP students is monitored annually with the use of Individual Development Plans. The IMP
Training Program Directors, IPM Program Chairs and senior faculty form the Executive Steering Committee of
the IMP training program. An External Advisory Board will regularly review the T32 program and providing
constructive criticism to help guide the Program’s leadership. The IMP Program has been growing, with
increased numbers of highly qualified students and currently admits an average of 7 students per year. We are
requesting funding to support 4 predoctoral trainees per year to receive funding for two-year terms. These
trainees are selected from a highly qualified pool of applicants by a faculty committee with members of our
three partner institutio...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9837416
- **Project number:** 5T32AI134632-02
- **Recipient organization:** WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** SABINE EHRT
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $146,885
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-02-01 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9837416

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9837416, Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis Research Training Program (5T32AI134632-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9837416. Licensed CC0.

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