Program Overview

Introduction to the Innate Immunity Training Program

The Innate Immunity Training Program (IITP) is a comprehensive training initiative led by Principal Investigator Neal Silverman, PhD, with a project end date of August 31, 2026. The program aims to provide an outstanding training environment for predoctoral students committed to expanding our understanding of innate immune mechanisms.

Program Overview

Our understanding of the impact and workings of the innate immune system has increased exponentially in the past 20 years. Innate immunity is now a complex discipline that encompasses a variety of topics ranging from innate immune sensing and receptor signaling to microbial pathogenesis to auto-immune and auto-inflammatory diseases. The 28 UMass Chan Medical School faculty participating in the IITP represent a cohesive and interactive faculty unit with diverse expertise.

Training Environment

Predoctoral trainees receive solid academic training in biochemistry/biophysics, molecular and cellular biology, immunology, and genetics through the UMass Chan core curriculum and IITP curricular components. An in-depth understanding of rational experimental design and the subtleties of the innate immune interactions is achieved through regularly scheduled journal clubs, as well as seminar presentations by internationally recognized experts.

Research Areas

The diverse research interests of our faculty provide trainees with a wide range of opportunities in both basic and translational research, focused on innate immunity, inflammation, and the link between the innate and adaptive immune responses. Particular areas of faculty expertise include:

• Innate host defense mechanisms
• Pathogen evasion
• Pattern recognition receptor signaling and interactions (Toll-like receptors, NOD-like receptors, and beyond)
• Complement cascades
• Inflammasome activation
• Innate-like lymphocyte subsets
• Antigen presentation
• Protein structure & function
• Autoimmunity

Program Support

IITP support is awarded through annual competition and is available to Ph.D. students in any of the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Doctoral Degree Programs.