Training in Molecular and Cell Biology of Allergy

This T32 training program with 4 post-doctoral trainees/year has been funded by NIAID since 1994
and takes advantage of the combined extensive allergy research activities in the La Jolla scientific
community. The faculty members are from two neighboring institutes: University of California, San
Diego (UCSD), and the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LJI) both located on the
UCSD campus and both UCSD faculty. The program is open to MD's and Ph.D.'s interested in
allergic/immunologic disease-oriented research and committed to a career in basic research applied
to these clinical diseases. The trainees have opportunities to be exposed to a wide range of allergy
research topics. In addition, the inter-institutional training program serves as a catalyst for
promoting interactions and collaborations among researchers from different institutes. All 23 faculty
members have well established NIH funded research programs; their research backgrounds are
diverse and when taken together encompass allergy, immunology, biochemistry, cell biology,
molecular biology, bioinformatics, genetics, epigenetics, and the microbiome. Therefore, this
training program represents an interdisciplinary approach. The trainees can be involved in the
following research areas: 1) genetics and epigenetics, 2) biology of inflammatory cells, including
mast cells, and eosinophils; 3) T cells; 4) dendritic cells, 5) innate immune responses (TLRs, ILC2,
NK cells) 6) cell receptors critically involved in allergic reactions; 7) signal transduction; 8)
inflammatory mediators/cytokines; 9) functions of epithelial cells; 10) complement, and 11)
endothelial adhesion. The goals of the program are 1) to foster the development of trainee's
laboratory based investigative skills, in particular, applying molecular and cellular biological
approaches to study mechanisms of allergic diseases, and 2) to mentor trainees to successfully
compete for either independent research grants and faculty positions, or research positions in
biotechnology. The trainees are expected to devote over 90% effort to research, and training will be
supplemented by conferences, seminars, journal clubs and courses. Upon completion of the
program trainees will have developed a solid background in the molecular and cellular mechanisms
of allergic inflammation and become qualified and confident in embarking upon their careers as
independent investigators in allergy research.

Grant Number: 5T32AI007469-30
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: DAVID BROIDE