# Interdisciplinary Training in Transplantation Biology

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $242,710

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The pressing need to improve understanding of the mechanistic basis of transplant rejection and tolerance and
to translate advances to the clinic, provides exciting opportunities for cutting-edge basic and translational
scientists. There is a critical need for training programs that optimally prepare the next generation of
transplantation researchers. With strong institutional support, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
(UPSOM) Starzl Transplantation Institute (STI) provides a unique academic environment, with an outstanding
translational research base and culture, conducive to strong and comprehensive, broad-based training of young
basic scientists and physicians in transplantation biology. Our established and proven Interdisciplinary Training
Program in Transplantation Biology (TPTB) is very clearly delineated from other (successful) training programs
at UPSOM. Our training program helps ensure that highly-trained investigators, strongly focused on
transplantation, are available to assume leadership roles in academia, industry and government-affiliated
research. Our highly-accomplished and well-funded participating faculty, further strengthened since our last
renewal application by research leadership recruits, particularly in bone marrow and lung transplantation, have
a very successful record of productive collaboration and strong commitment to training of young investigators.
Expertise includes immunogenetics, ischemia-reperfusion injury, antigen-presenting cell, T and B cell biology,
stem cell biology, tolerance induction, liver immunology, transplant infectious disease, chronic rejection, allo-
and xenorecognition, xenotransplantation and human transplant immunology. A unique feature of our Training
Program is that investigations range from those in invertebrates (a new trainer on the grant is expert in
invertebrate allorecognition) and rodents to non-human primates and humans. Our trainees have been very
successful publishing in leading journals, and in obtaining individual research fellowships, recognition and career
development awards and faculty positions. Our goal is to produce outstanding, potentially independent
investigators, highly conversant with fundamental and translational questions in transplantation biology and
equipped with appropriate investigational, survival and career development skills. Pre-doctoral trainees are
selected from graduate students enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Training Program at
UPSOM, including those in the medical scientist training program, who seek a PhD in transplantation biology.
Based on successes achieved during the 2 previous funding periods of this Training Grant, the availability of
well-qualified applicants and review of our original competing renewal application, we request support of 2 pre-
doctoral trainees in year 11 and subsequent years. Postdoctoral trainees with MD, PhD, or dual degrees will be
selected based on their outstand...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9965734
- **Project number:** 5T32AI074490-13
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Angus W Thomson
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $242,710
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2007-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9965734

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9965734, Interdisciplinary Training in Transplantation Biology (5T32AI074490-13). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9965734. Licensed CC0.

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