Program Overview

This training grant is through a collaboration between the Respiratory Institute and Lerner Research Institute (LRI). This program will include high standards of research that span the entire spectrum comprising fundamental discovery science, early translational research, clinical investigations, and population science research, thereby moving fundamental discoveries into clinical and public health practice in real-world settings. Our innovative T32 program contains fundamental core elements yet adapts to the individual needs of each trainee.

Program Goals

The goals of the program are:

  • To provide trainees with multidisciplinary didactic research training, coupled to a team mentored research experience.
  • To enhance the ability of trainees to work as part of an integrated, multidisciplinary team by developing a knowledge base and skills in research methods, communication skills, professionalism, the ethical conduct of research and rigorous analysis of reproducible findings.
  • To recruit, retain and accelerate the independent career development of a pool of young investigators with the multidisciplinary skills necessary for an independent research career in basic, clinical, translational or population health research.

Once T32 fellows complete our highly adaptive program, they will have the knowledge and skills to pursue outstanding cutting-edge research careers and will be able to recognize the importance of different research paradigms, ranging from molecular medicine to public health sciences, for rapidly translating scientific discoveries into better clinical diagnostics and therapeutics.

Program Leadership

Our T32 executive committee is composed of Dr. Dweik (Program Director) and four Associate Directors, each with complementary, non-overlapping expertise. The executive committee has the primary responsibility for providing direct program management, including: program governance, recruitment of candidates (), assessment and approval of candidates, approval and assessment of mentor/trainee relationships, and overall assessment of the T32 program. The executive committee will meet at least quarterly with each trainee on the T32, assessing projects and progress.

Raed Dweik

Raed Dweik, MD
Director of the T32 program
Chair of the Respiratory Institute at the Cleveland Clinic
Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM)
Staff Scientist, Department of Inflammation & Immunity, Lerner Research Institute

Serpil Erzurum

Serpil Erzurum MD
T32 Associate Director for Lerner Research Institute
Chief Research and Academic Officer Cleveland Clinic
Chair of the Lerner Research Institute
Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine

Christine Moravec

Christine Moravec PhD
T32 Associate Director for Research Education and Didactic Training
Director of Research Education and Training for the Lerner Research Institute
Assistant Dean for Basic Science Education and Director of Graduate Programs for Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine

 Mark Aronica

Mark Aronica, MD
T32 Associate Director for Allergy & Immunology
Vice-Chair of Allergy & Immunology in the Respiratory Institute
Staff Scientist, Inflammation & Immunity, Lerner Research Institute

Mitchell Olman

Mitchell Olman, MD, MA
T32 Associate Director for Pulmonary & Critical Care
Professor of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Staff Scientist, Department of Inflammation & Immunity Lerner Research Institute
Staff clinician in the Respiratory Institute

Application Details

Requirements:

Applicants must hold a terminal doctoral degree (e.g. MD, PhD, or equivalent). Underrepresented minorities in medicine/science as defined by NIH and women are encouraged to apply.

All applicants must have evidence of strong academic achievement and scholarship. The application follows similar format as specified for many NIH awards, adopting similar information requirements on candidate, letters of support, and foundational aspects of the career plan. The application includes:

  • NIH formatted biosketch of applicant which includes:
    • Academic background: dates of attendance, discipline, degree received and institution for each.
    • Postdoctoral training - include dates, field of research, place and title (if applicable).
    • Licenses/certificates & honors and awards.
    • Research/Scholarly Activities: published articles, books, book chapters, and conference presentations.
  • NIH formatted biosketch(es) of mentor(s).
  • Letter(s) of support from mentor(s). Letters must address:
    1. Applicant's demonstrated ability or potential to conduct research and ‘mentorability’.
    2. Importance of applicant's area of research.
    3. Applicant's ability to work on a team.
  • 1 page from the applicant summarizing the project proposal and career development plan. 
  • Formatting should follow NIH requirements which includes: minimum of 11pt font and 0.5 inch margins.

Please submit applications to the principal investigator

Please reach out with questions to the Executive Committee