Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
ABSTRACT This proposal is the renewal of an initiative for predoctoral training in Tropical Infectious Diseases, now called The Graduate Program in Tropical Infectious Diseases (GPiTID) and requests funding for six trainees for five years. Since its start in 2001, this program has trained over 80 graduate students, including 48 students appointed to this T32. The goal of this training grant is two-fold: to train the next generation of global health leaders and to train students to advance scientific achievements toward the control of infectious diseases. The GPiTID is distinct in many aspects – the training is embedded in a school of public health but focuses on fundamental scientific discovery using cutting edge approaches of genomics, cell biology, immunology, population biology and gene editing coupled with the epidemiology of diseases in their natural setting to address major infections that pose a threat to public health both in the US and abroad. There is a focus on fundamental scientific training but in the context of the diseases as holistic problems and with an emphasis on fundamental discoveries that could lead to new interventions including drug, vaccine, and insecticide development. The Principal Investigators of the program are Dr. Dyann Wirth, Richard Pearson Strong Professor, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases (IID) at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (Harvard Chan) and Institute Member at the Broad Institute; Dr. Phyllis Kanki, Lasker Professor in the Harvard Chan IID Department; and Dr. Sarah Fortune, Chair and Professor of the Harvard Chan IID Department. In 2026, Dr. Flaminia Catteruccia – Professor in the Harvard Chan IID Department and HHMI Investigator – will be appointed as co- PI in place of Professor Wirth. The training program is housed in the Harvard Chan IID Department, centrally located in the Longwood Medical Area of Boston, MA, and draws additional training faculty from across Harvard University. GPiTID students complete fundamental biology and computational training coursework as well as courses that integrate biology and public health content; the public health courses are taken with students from other Harvard Chan academic programs that draw students from around the world, including countries where infectious diseases remain a major health threat. The GPiTID also offers students opportunities at the interface of laboratory science and translational applications through two special programs, one an opportunity to conduct part of their thesis work in a disease endemic setting and second a Pathogen Therapeutic Development and Policy Implementation Program. Our graduates show the success of this program: half are impacting global health through fundamental infectious diseases research in academia as tenure-track faculty, staff scientists, or further training as postdoctoral fellows, while the other half are applying their scientific training in leadership roles in industry, global health-focused government positions, and other key health-engaged sectors where they can create and advocate for interventions to control infectious diseases.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
