Interdisciplinary NexGen TB research Advancement Center (IN-TRAC)

TEXAS BIOMED IN-TRAC OVERALL ABSTRACT The Interdisciplinary NexGen TB Research Advancement Center (IN-TRAC) at Texas Biomedical Research Institute (Texas Biomed) will attract the next generation of diverse researchers to the tuberculosis (TB) research field, and develop them into independent researchers with multi-disciplinary skills and real-world experience of clinical TB. The product of IN-TRAC will be researchers that choose to work on some of the most challenging and relevant translational problems in TB, and that work across academic disciplines and within a framework of highly collaborative research. This will be achieved through 6 interrelated Cores. Administrative Core: The central hub of IN-TRAC management and oversight, with responsibility for administrative and scientific leadership; coordinating communication between Cores, researchers and NIH/NIAID Program staff and providing an organizational structure to optimize multidisciplinary collaborations and interactions between the Cores and among a diverse cohort of IN-TRAC participants. Development Core: Oversight of all career development programming and courses, tailoring the research and clinical experiences, both intern and externships, to each individual IN-TRAC participant, and management of the IN-TRAC pilot grant program. Biosafety & Biocontainment Core: Extending the required biosafety training to a personalized curriculum including theoretical and hands-on biocontainment training, understanding the mechanical and regulatory requirements of a BSL3/ABSL3, coaching on how to develop biosafety protocols, and working through risk assessments from the perspective of a Biosafety Officer. Research Imaging Core: Providing theoretical and hands-on training from single cell imaging (confocal microscopy, cytometry, live cell imaging, single cell RNAseq) through to whole body imaging in mice (IVIS) and Non-human primates (NHP) (PET/CT) within large, fully outfitted BSL3/ABSL3 facilities. Animal Model Core: Implementing a training program to introduce all IN-TRAC participants to the regulatory requirements for working with rodents and NHPs, how to develop a robust experimental protocol, how to write an IACUC protocol, and hands-on animal handling and experimental procedures. Clinical Research & Patient Care Core: Introducing IN-TRAC participants to TB patient care at the only free-standing TB hospital in the US (Texas Center of Infectious Diseases) that manages some of the most challenging cases of TB nationally. Partnering with this will be a clinical research experience at the US- Mexico border, to experience TB studies in under-served and under-resourced communities.