Immunology Postdoctoral Research Training Program

Director(s): J. Harty

Diseases that involve dysfunction of the immune system, such as autoimmunity and chronic inflammation tend to increase with aging, and ironically, aging is also associated with decreased ability of the immune system to fight infectious diseases and cancer. The increased understanding of immune function and how it can be harnessed to fight and alleviate human disease, has led to major medical advances in recent years. These include (but are not limited to) development of an effective vaccine to HPV, mAb therapy for at least 9 different malignancies, and immunotherapies for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. However, much remains to be discovered in order to fully exploit the power to regulate the immune system to promote human health. The overall goal of our training program is to produce a new generation of excellent young immunologists, well-prepared to advance the science of immunology in academic, educational, and industrial settings. There are >40 active immunology faculty at The University of Iowa, and recruitment is continuing. The Immunology postdoctoral T32 training program has been ongoing for the past 25 years. Our faculty preceptors come from 9 different departments and their research programs cover the spectrum of cutting edge immunology topics.

Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Training Program

Director(s): F.Abboud

The research program focuses on 5 areas: Membrane Biology and Cell Signaling, Integrative Neurobiology of Cardiovascular Regulation, Vascular Biology, Cerebral Circulation and Hypertension. Multidisciplinary themes and core resources cut across these major research areas. The emphasis is on basic, clinical, and translational research and a primary goal of an academic career. . A career plan is outlined with support from this training grant for 1 to 3 years and the remaining years funded by institutional sources or other NIH, foundation or American Heart Association career development programs. The trainees participate in seminars, graduate courses, bench research, genomic and clinical research, and epidemiologic surveys and biostatistics.

Mechanisms of Parsitism

Director(s): J. Donelson, M. Wilson, P. Schlievert

“Parasitism” is the interaction between two organisms, in which one organism (the parasite) benefits and the other (the host) is often harmed. Microbial parasites that cause human disease must successfully invade and survive within their human host. They use various strategies to avoid or suppress the host’s immune defenses. This T32 training program is based on the hypothesis that different parasitic pathogens face similar obstacles, and thus utilize related strategies to survive in the mammalian host environment. This training program is designed to span the interfaces between parasitology, bacterial pathogenesis, viral pathogenesis and immunology into a single program. Its goal is to enhance collaborative research and training among laboratories at the University of Iowa specializing in these disciplines, and in the process enrich the environment for the development of trainees. Program activities include a weekly Parasitism Journal Club/Research meeting, either joint or independent research retreats, sponsored outside speakers and enhanced centralized equipment and facilities available to trainees, and a summer seminar series featuring faculty with expertise in digital imaging, bioinformatics, microarrays, proteomics, and genome analysis. Our goal is to continue to maintain a productive environment for exchange of creative ideas among faculty and trainees working on different aspects of microbial infection.

Infectious Diseases

Director(s): J. Stapleton

The Training in Infectious Diseases T-32 provides a comprehensive and integrated training program for MD and PhD postdoctoral trainees interested in investigative careers studying interactions between human pathogens and host defenses. The program faculty have considerable breadth of skills and expertise, and represent four departments in the College of Medicine (Internal Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, Pathology, and Pediatrics), and faculty from the College of Public Health and four interdisciplinary PhD degree granting programs (Immunology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Genetics, and Translational Biomedicine). The goals for trainees are to provide a strong foundation in basic science and translational research, skills to conduct and critically evaluate state-of-the-art infectious diseases research, and to integrate clinical and investigative research aspects of infectious diseases. In addition, three medical students participate in clinical and basic infectious diseases research early in their medical school careers. The strong interactions and collaborations of faculty and trainees studying bacterial pathogenesis, innate immunity and virology are sustained and strengthened through this program.

Kidney Disease, Hypertension, and Cell Biology

Director: J. Stokes

The Institutional Research Fellowship for Kidney Disease, Hypertension, and Cell Biology supports postdoctoral fellows whose research projects relate to normal and pathological processes affecting kidney development, function or disease. Included in the areas of scientific priority are inflammatory and immunological diseases affecting the kidney. Problems related to kidney transplantation and rejection or tolerance to the transplant are important priorities. Priority will be given to candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to a career in research, and strong support from a mentor.