The Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology is excited to report successful progress in our T32 program Training in Research on Vascular Inflammation and Injury, which was launched in February 2022.

This is the first T32 Instructional Training Grant awarded to the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

This T32 supports the training of predoctoral fellows and postdoctoral fellows in basic and translational research, focusing on organ pathophysiology related to vascular inflammation, immunity, and injury.

Inflammation is a common mechanism underlying many diseases and organ pathologies, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, arrhythmia, stroke, Alzheimer’s Disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, traumatic brain injury, sepsis and stroke. Fellows will receive comprehensive and integrated training in genetic, molecular, physiological, and pharmacological studies of organ systems heavily involved in inflammatory injury, namely the brain, heart, lung, kidney, and gut.

Training is provided by experienced and well-funded mentors from Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology.

From 2022 to August 2026, 11 trainees have been supported by this T32 program. Collectively, they have published 26 manuscripts in well-respected journals including Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology; Journal of Physiology; JCI Insight; Diabetes; and Hypertension. The program has supported travel to dozens of major research conferences where trainees have made 34 presentations and attended numerous workshops and networking events. Considerable efforts have been made to develop trainee independence, knowledge and technical skills. A key focus has been the development of grant writing skills, which has led to substantial success: fourteen fellowship applications have yielded 5 awards. Congratulations to the trainees and mentors!

Program Contact:
Dr. Tom Taylor-Clark
ttaylorclark@usf.edu