NIH/NIAID-supported UTMB Postdoctoral Training Program in Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases

The training program in emerging and reemerging infectious diseases supports postdoctoral trainees and prepares them for clinical, epidemiologic, applied or basic careers in the field. Training is provided by 20 Program Faculty and 21 Associate Program Faculty, encompassing multidisciplinary approaches and the resources of several departments including Human Biological Chemistry and Genetics, Internal Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, Pediatrics, Pathology, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, as well as the Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, the WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases (CTD), the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, and the Sealy Center for Structural Biology. UTMB also hosts the World Reference Center for Arboviruses. UTMB has extensive BSL-3 bench laboratory and animal research facilities, and a recently constructed BSL-4 laboratory.  UTMB also has started construction of one of the two NIH/NIAD - supported National Biocontainment Laboratories, the Galveston National Laboratory, with a June 2008 projected opening date. The university has made a major commitment to research and training in the field by recruitment of senior, established faculty to facilitate research and training in the field. Approximately 90 faculty at UTMB conduct research projects in infectious diseases of all types. Very few medical schools in the United States can now claim to have a faculty as large, as diverse but collaborative in multidisciplinary studies, and of such excellence in the area of emerging infectious diseases.

The program offers training in two broad tracks: (1) basic investigation; and (2) clinical investigation. In the second tract, the trainee is encouraged to obtain an M.Sc.. degree through the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health. In addition, the program offers basic and clinical investigation training in a specific Biodefense Track, addressing CDC/NIAID class A, B, and C pathogens. The major objective of the training program is to foster development of basic or clinical research skills along with a collaborative approach to enable trainees to become independent investigators in the field of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, including research regarding pathogens considered to be potential bioterrorist threats. Research is conducted in all of the relevant pathogen-related disciplines, in pathogenetic mechanisms, and in vector biology. A strong feature of the proposed training program is the extensive availability of international field research experience. Training is thus available from state-of-the-art laboratories at UTMB to the most effective current techniques for research in the field. The trainees will be thoroughly oriented regarding contemporary problems in the relevant disciplines and will be provided with outstanding research opportunities. Most importantly, they will be prepared to embark on careers characterized by continual self improvement and utilization of future opportunities for collaboration and cross-disciplinary problem solving.

Clinical Training:
This NIH/NIAID-funded program provides support for research training only. Research training can be combined with clinical training in infectious diseases for individuals with MD's and prior residency training in Internal Medicine or Pediatrics. Clinical training is supported by other funding sources. Individuals desiring clinical as well as research training may be eligible for research training support under this NIH/NIAID program if they meet the criteria listed below. For information regarding combined clinical and research training in infectious diseases visit our sites at:

• Division of Infectious Diseases, Fellowship Program
• Pediatric Infectious Diseases

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