Biodefense Training Program

This is a fourth competitive renewal of our highly successful Biodefense Training Program (BTP) for predoctoral students; first funded in 2004, prior to the building of the Galveston National Laboratory (GNL) in 2008. Since then, there has been an explosive growth of research at UTMB on biodefense-related and other emerging/re- emerging microbes of significant public health concern, the latest being SARS-CoV2. The goal of this grant remains to train a new generation of scientists for diverse research careers (in academia, pharma, or in regulatory agencies) critical to protecting the world from bioweapons and from epidemics/pandemics caused by naturally emerging, highly pathogenic bacteria and viruses. With significant advances in biotechnology, the development of artificially engineered microbes that have the potential to spread more quickly, are more lethal, and resist prevention or treatment options is a reality. Therefore, concerted efforts by the federal government to train next generation scientists capable of safely working at BSL-3 and BSL-4 containment at both academic campuses and government facilities remain critical. UTMB is well qualified to train these scientists by virtue of the existence of the GNL, which has comprehensive maximum containment and excellent core facilities, successful and well-funded major biodefense research programs, and a highly developed biocontainment training program. UTMB faculty have developed countermeasures already in use in patients or are in various stages of development. The strong and diverse biodefense and emerging infectious disease research portfolio ranges from vaccine development to diagnostics, antimicrobial development to pathogenesis, and these programs are highly collaborative and interdisciplinary in nature. The BTP supports four PhD or MD/PhD students each year enrolledin one of four graduate programs: MICR, PATH, BCMB, and HPTM. Trainees are selected for up to 2 years by an Executive Committee after they have completed their qualifying exam and have submitted a formal F31-style proposal which is evaluated first by a standing review committee and ranked. In addition to courses required bythe respective graduate programs, BTP trainees enroll in elective classes specific to biodefense/emerging infections/vaccinology track and custom-designed to meet their needs, with a special focus on responsible conduct of research. With a structured mentoring plan, well-funded faculty participate in the program, but an opportunity is provided to develop junior mentors through involvement of senior faculty as co-mentors in studentsupervision. Enrichment activities include retreats organized by the trainees to discuss career opportunities with invited past BTP trainees from academia, government, and industry, as well as to discuss topics in ethics and specific research themes. Trainees also organize a Biodefense/Immunology Journal Club, and there is close interaction of the students with seminar speakers during the weekly Infectious Diseases and Immunity Colloquium. A strong, multi-component program for recruiting URM trainees exists and will be further augmented to develop a biodefense/emerging infectious disease workforce mirroring the national population.