Educating trainees (graduate and medical students and post-doctoral fellows) to be future scientists or physician-scientists is a cornerstone of the SIVS's mission. To address the need for increased knowledge in the field of vaccinology, we have developed
seven graduate-level courses and have facilitated the publication of vaccine-related texts for trainees, scientists and the public.
Internship in Regulated Nonclinical Studies (HPTM 6072) (Course director: David Beasley, PhD) was first offered in Fall 2019. This course gives students the opportunity to shadow study directors, scientific/technical personnel, records management and archiving personnel, and quality assurance unit
(QAU) personnel from the Institutional Office of Regulated Nonclinical Studies (ORNcS). The internship is intended to give UTMB graduate students an advanced understanding of the FDA Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Animal Rule regulations; processes
for implementation and operation of quality management systems; and the design, execution, reporting and quality oversight of animal efficacy studies supporting licensure of vaccines and other medical countermeasures . Students receive practical training
on development/use of study protocols, standard operating procedures, study-specific and facility documentation, equipment qualification, data/sample retention, and Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QC/QA). This is an eight-week course taught in
a mixed format of discussions and laboratory work. This course is offered as a 1-3-credit elective in the Human Pathophysiology and Translational Medicine Curriculum to graduate students.
International Internship in Vaccinology (MICR 6070) is
sponsored by the SIVS for international internships in conjunction with the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (PEI) in Langen, Germany, and the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Hertfordshire,
UK. Students can undertake internships at WHO, PEI, or NIBSC for a period of 3 months. The course is offered as an elective to graduate students and medical students in years 3 or 4 of the graduate school and medical school curricula. Medical students
can take the international internship as a medical school elective credit.
Internship in Vaccinology (MICR 6143) is sponsored by the SIVS for UTMB-based internships with most involving collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) . The interns have the opportunity to take part in a vaccine-related project that involves preparation of a
report by the student on a specific infectious disease and vaccine topic. S tudents work as part of a small group (2-3 students) under the supervision of SIVS members. The internship is conducted over a 3-month period, concurrent with the trainee's
regular educational and research activities. The course is offered as a 2-credit elective.
Introduction to Vaccinology: Vaccines for the 21st Century
(PATH 6161) (Course directors: Gregg Milligan, PhD and Nigel Bourne, PhD) was established in 2003 and is taught under the auspices of the Experimental Pathology Graduate Program. It is designed to provide the basic scientist with an
understanding of current vaccine development against established and emerging diseases for which no vaccines currently exist.