Childhood Infections Research Program

The overall goal of the ‘Childhood Infections Research Program’ T32 (CHIRP) is to prepare MD Fellows and PhD postdoctoral scientists for careers as investigators in basic and clinical / translational research related to infections in children. The objectives of CHIRP are: 1) to identify outstanding MD and PhD candidates committed to a research career related to infections of children; 2) to support mentored research training with experienced senior mentors and productive emerging mentors; 3) to implement a “career design by objective” program that establishes individualized timelines and pathways for training and long-term career development; 4) to utilize courses and degree programs relevant to the individualized training plan; and 5) to incorporate novel interdisciplinary training programs among MD and PhD trainees to create broad understanding of important questions and issues in childhood infections. CHIRP has identified 23 senior mentors in Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology with sustained NIH funding coupled with a successful track record of mentoring early career scholars. Also, we have selected 8 ‘emerging mentors’, with funding and established trainees and productivity.

Mentor research and training programs are in virology, bacteriology, vaccines, hospital infections, epidemiology, and outcomes. MD trainees will be identified from Pediatric Infectious Diseases and other pediatric and adult subspecialties. PhD applicants will be identified by application of externally and internally recruited PhD candidates of CHIRP mentors and broadly across Vanderbilt. A Program Director, Associate Directors, and Steering Committee will direct the selection and ongoing evaluation of trainees and program progress.

An Advisory Committee of three national leaders in Pediatric Infectious Diseases will review the program and provide recommendations for changes and improvements, including approaches to increase the applicant pool. Evaluation of trainees will be based on required scholarship oversight committees, individual development plans, trainee progress reports, and compliance with requirements for training in responsible conduct of research and reproducibility. Ongoing program evaluation has led to improvements including the advisory committee and a monthly “T32-Club” for trainees with discussions of RCR, reproducibility, research-in-progress, and trainee-selected topics relevant to success and challenges of research careers. Long-term program success will be based on outcomes of trainees in publications, career progress, and follow-on funding and will be assessed using trainee evaluations and formal review by the steering and advisory committees.

CHIRP has been highly successful in recruiting, mentoring and establishing investigators in childhood infections, and we request support to continue the program success.

Grant Number: 5T32AI095202-16
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: JAMES CASSAT