Signaling Pathways in Innate Immunity

University Of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore MD

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

An unprecedented expansion of knowledge has occurred in the relatively young field of “innate immunity,” as exemplified by the mechanisms underlying the severe inflammatory manifestations revealed by the COVID- 19 pandemic. The “Signaling Pathways in Innate Immunity” (SPII) training program (TP) for pre- and postdoc- toral trainees completed its 10th year in August 2022, and this revised application requests continued funding for years 11-15. The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) has significant research and training strengths in this area. The 33 Training Grant Faculty (TGF) for this uniquely focused TP are highly interactive and primarily from the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, with affiliations in interdisciplinary centers and institutes (e.g., Center for Vaccine Development, Institute for Genome Sciences, Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, and the Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center). Our TGF are well-funded and have a long history of collaboration on grants and publications. Predoctoral trainees are selected from a strong applicant pool, including entrants from the UMSOM M.D./Ph.D. Program, within the Graduate Program in Life Sciences Molecular Microbiology & Immunology (MMI) Program. Training includes a rigorous, multidisciplinary core curriculum, program-specific courses, elective courses, journal clubs, seminars, annual symposia, and graduate research forums. Additional academic work will be combined with intensive laboratory training through dissertation research under the direction of the TGF whose expertise will provide inter- and multidisci- plinary training opportunities. SPII TP-eligible postdoctoral fellows are increasingly gravitating to laboratories with expertise in innate immune signaling where they receive dedicated mentoring using state-of-the art re- sources and innovative opportunities to attain new skills in an academically challenging environment. Pre- and postdoctoral trainees have additional mandatory didactic and non-didactic requirements, including training in the responsible conduct of research, professional development, new “hands on” training modules in our Center for Innovative Biomedical Research (CIBR) Core facility, and a highly structured mentoring program. Recruit- ment of trainees from underrepresented minorities is a priority of the SPII TP and is reflected in the diversity of our pre- and postdoctoral trainees: in Years 1-10, SPII TP trainees were 59.6% women and 22.9% un- derrepresented minorities. SPII TP is guided by a highly qualified Advisory Board including the TP Director and 3 Co-Directors, 2 senior TGF, and 4 past or current TP Directors. Our TGF support trainee participation in in- novative new training components in rigor and reproducibility, diversity, equity and inclusion, and outreach to foster their professional development. Our current trainees are already building impressive records of publica- tions and awards and SPII alumni are in academic, industry, or government research positions or have contin- ued postdoctoral or resident training. Their successes to date indicate that SPII trainees are exceptionally well prepared for scientific careers that will significantly contribute to the nation’s health.