The program aims to provide in-depth training in basic research on AIDS and HIV infection to individuals with PhD and/or MD degrees who intend to follow academic careers in research laboratories and/or in clinical departments. The program is designed for scientists who have completed their doctorates, for physicians who have received appropriate clinical training and are ready to embark on a career of research, and for MD/PhD's who have completed at least one year of post-graduate clinical experience.

Participating faculty represent investigators with extensive training records who are involved in at least one of three multidisciplinary areas providing the programmatic focus for the Center for AIDS Research: Pathogenesis, Transmission, and Vaccine Development. These three areas provide natural lines of collaboration with the technical expertise of participating faculty, and the clinical resources of the Medical Center. Each area includes investigators studying biomolecular phenomenon working in tandem with physician scientists exploring the clinical aspects of HIV infection: the ACTUs (Borkowsky and Valentine); the basic science departments of microbiology (Basilico), parasitology (Clarkson), and pathology (Celada, Defendi, Zolla-Pazner); Pediatrics (Borkowsky, Krasinski, and Pollack); the PHRI (Drlica, Pinter); The Skirball Institute (Littman)and the VA (Zolla-Pazner, Bandres, Laal).

In addition to these three areas, a fourth area, Clinical Investigation, represents the interests of those NYU investigators interested predominately in clinical research. Faculty members in Clinical Investigation include those physician scientists who have been at the forefront of investigating the clinical manifestations of HIV disease and identifying new treatment modalities to improve medical outcomes. Thus, trainees would have the opportunity of collaborating with both laboratory-based and clinical investigators in areas such as AIDS-related neoplasms (Friedman-Kien), opportunistic infections (Dietrich, Simberkoff, Rom), clinical trials (Borkowsky, Hochster, Valentine), maternal transmission (Borkowsky, Krasinski), epidemiology (Marmor) and thrombocytopenia (Karpatkin, Zucker-Franklin).

It is anticipated that each trainee will work with a faculty member and a clinical investigator if so desired, in one of the program areas. Through participation in the Medical Center's AIDS-related seminars and colloquia, which are coordinated by the CFAR, trainees will become familiar with research topics under study in the other program areas as well. Thus, this training program provides depth of focus to the trainee as well as fosters further opportunities for interaction amongst the members of the training faculty in other program areas. Selection Trainees are selected from among individuals with PhD and/or MD degrees who want to become skilled in at least one of the program's areas of concentration. To be eligible, either permanent residence in the United States or citizenship is required. Applicants are requested to submit their curriculum vitae and three letters of recommendation to William Borkowsky, MD (Dept. of Pediatrics, 212-263-6513, email address borkow01@gcrc.med.nyu.edu ). Detailed reports of interest in research and educational records are requested. Interviews with faculty members are arranged and final decisions made by the Executive Committee on the basis of the candidate's interviews, letters of recommendation, interest in the areas of faculty research, and commitment to an academic research career. Preference is usually given to candidates with a previously established interest and experience in research. In addition, particular attention will be given to recruit individuals who are African-American or Hispanic, or other underrepresented racial/ethnic groups.