# Training in Host-Pathogen Interactions

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK · 2020 · $125,285

## Abstract

Summary
The Training Program in Host-Pathogen Interactions (HPI) has been supported to train
predoctoral students in the areas of microbial pathogenesis and host defense for the past 4
years. This revised renewal application seeks to build upon the many strengths that have been
developed at UMCP over the initial support period and to expand our program in host-pathogen
interactions. Our 23 training faculty are remarkably interactive, allowing our trainees to be
exposed to a variety of diverse research techniques. Multi-disciplinary approaches to pathogen
research will be emphasized to take advantage of our widespread expertise in diverse research
areas including biomaterials and nanosciences, computational biology and genomics,
microbiology and immunology, and microbial pathogenesis. Trainees in the HPI program will be
exposed to a variety of career alternatives, and attend seminars from previous trainees who
have gone on to pursue careers in clinical trials administration, scientific review, biodefense,
intellectual property, science writing, and entrepreneurship. A new internship with MedImmune
provides opportunity to explore Biopharma first-hand. The didactic component of this training
program is organized by the Biological Sciences Training Program (BISI) and the research
program is guided by a highly qualified team including the Training Program Co-Directors, an
Internal Steering Committee, and an External Advisory Board comprised of internationally
recognized experts in bacterial pathogenesis and host defense. Predoctoral students are
selected for this program from a large and increasingly qualified applicant pool. Of the 14
trainees supported by the HPI Training Program two (2) are underrepresented minorities (15%),
and 10/14 trainees were women. Of the 23 faculty trainers, 1 is an underrepresented minority
and 5 are women (22%). This training program takes advantage of the close proximity of UMCP
to the NIH, FDA, USAMRIID, and the Department of Homeland Security and we have sent
students into laboratories from all of these institutions to learn techniques. Finally, our trainees
present their research at local, national, and international meetings. Thus, the Training Program
in Host-Pathogen Interactions plays a key role in the continued development of this discipline at
the University of Maryland, College Park.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9927980
- **Project number:** 5T32AI089621-10
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID M MOSSER
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $125,285
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2010-08-01 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9927980

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9927980, Training in Host-Pathogen Interactions (5T32AI089621-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9927980. Licensed CC0.

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