Training a new generation of vaccinologists

Abstract In an era marked by unprecedented global health challenges, the development and deployment of effective and safe vaccines stand as the best countermeasure against infectious diseases. The field of vaccinology stands at the intersection of many disciplines (microbiology, immunology, infectious diseases, public health, pathology, pediatrics, medicine, epidemiology, behavior, global health, implementation science, engineering, bioinformatics, and health policy) and plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the well-being of communities worldwide. The demand for transformative research and comprehensive training in vaccinology has never been more pressing. This is a renewal application for the fourth cycle (years 16-20) of the established Emory Vaccinology Training Program T32 (VTP-T32). Since 2009, our program continues to be uniquely positioned to train a cadre of basic, translational, public health and clinical scientists with cutting edge, multi-disciplinary expertise in vaccinology. The program supports skilled post-doctoral fellows through rigorous didactic coursework, hands on mentored project and professional development. Mentored by highly accomplished faculty, fellows will engage in innovative research from one of seven Research Training Sections: 1) Pathogenesis & Vaccine Discovery; 2) Immunology; 3) Translation, Delivery and Clinical Trials; 4) Epidemiology; 5) Implementation Science & Health Policy; 6) Vaccine Safety (a dedicated CDC funded slot); and 7) Bioinformatics and Computational Vaccinology. We will continue to build on our success: 94% of graduates have stayed in government, industry or academia and among them, 87% are thriving in vaccine-related fields. A total of 186 papers are directly associated with the VTP-T32 and 40% of these papers are with trainees as first author; in addition, a total of 145 grants from a variety of funding sources have been awarded to our scholars. The specific aims of the Emory VTP-T32 are: 1- To continue implementing our systematic approach for identifying, recruiting and retaining highly qualified, motivated post-doctoral trainees into the VTP-T32. 2- To provide each trainee a rigorous and tailored curriculum covering key aspects of vaccinology, a robust hands-on mentored research project, and career mentoring. 3- To continue integrating the strong basic science, translational research, implementation science, clinical trials, and vaccine policy programs at Emory into a multi-faceted training experience and rich environment promoting collaborations and interdisciplinary approaches.