# Training in Emerging Infectious Diseases

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2020 · $214,386

## Abstract

This application represents the third competing renewal for our Training in Emerging
Infectious Disease (EID) Training program based at the University of Pennsylvania that
supports 2 predoctoral and 2 postdoctoral trainees per year. Of the more than 70 faculty
who are affiliated with the Penn microbiology program, a select group of 14 faculty are
trainers with this EID T32. All of the trainers have significant EID research programs
involving parasites, bacteria, and viruses. An active Executive Committee coupled with
an experienced Internal Advisory Committee insures that this program retains a very
tight focus on the study of emerging and re-emerging pathogens. As a result, trainers
have been dropped from the program when their EID programs have faded while others
have been added. This program has served to coalesce EID research training on our
campus, with our trainers instituting a popular EID lecture course, a rigorous BSL3
training program, and a Certificate in Public Health Program. We now use Individual
Development Plans for our students and postdocs which makes it possible for us to tailor
our training activities to best meet the needs of our trainees. Importantly, Penn continues
to provide significant, direct support to training activities, including $7 million for our
ABSL3/BSL3 and via supporting predoctoral trainees for their first 21 months of graduate
school. Thus, our T32 supports trainees only after they have completed all coursework
and their prelim exams. Thus far, this T32 has supported 39 trainees, almost all for 2
years each, including 19 Ph.D. students, 4 M.D./Ph.D. students, and 16 Ph.D.
postdoctoral fellows. Our 39 trainees have worked in the labs of 18 different trainers. Of
the 39 current and past trainees, 20 are women, 19 are men, and 7 are
minorities/disadvantaged (18%). Our retention rate is 92%, and those who have
completed training and left Penn have obtained good positions (for the postdocs) and
excellent postdoctoral positions at leading institutions, with most continuing to study
emerging infectious agents. The accomplishments of our trainees coupled with their
career progress since leaving Penn shows that our T32 program is indeed training
promising young scientists to enter careers in EIDs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9975678
- **Project number:** 5T32AI055400-18
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Sara Cherry
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $214,386
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2003-08-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9975678

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9975678, Training in Emerging Infectious Diseases (5T32AI055400-18). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9975678. Licensed CC0.

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