The Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program at MSKCC is committed to providing outstanding research opportunities for all of our fellows. Indeed, all fellows are expected to become active participants in research projects during their training on the Infectious Diseases Service. While the first year of fellowship is largely focused on clinical training, fellows have the opportunity to explore a variety of research options during the clinical year. The Program Director, the Service Chief, and other faculty will speak with each fellow regarding potential projects in the first months of fellowship. By Fall of the first year of fellowship, fellows generally have identified a few areas of potential interest and a specific mentor for each area. The second year of fellowship is designed to provide ID fellows with ample contiguous blocks of time to pursue their research interests.
Clinical Research
MSKCC Infectious Diseases Fellows can become involved with and may initiate a broad range of clinical studies. Research projects may vary from clinical reports to case series to epidemiologic investigations. All Research projects will be supervised by faculty members within MSKCC, or faculty members from Rockefeller University or Weill Medical College associated with the MSKCC ID service. Though most clinical studies typically occur within the Infectious Diseases Service they often cross borders into other disciplines. Thus, collaborative studies with other clinical services (Lymphoma, Leukemia, Transplant etc…) are commonplace and encouraged. The close relationship between the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory and the Infectious Diseases Service provides many opportunities for fellow-initiated research projects. Infectious Disease Fellows interested in clinical research also have the opportunity to obtain an MPH degree during the course of their fellowship training.
Laboratory Research
The research laboratories of the Infectious Diseases Service at MSKCC are focused on the immune response to infection by bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens. The pathogenesis of Mycobacterial infections is also actively investigated. Interested fellows are encouraged to work in the laboratory on research projects that characterize the interface between the mammalian immune system and pathogens in the setting of infectious disease. Fellows are provided with on-site training in laboratory investigation and also have opportunities to participate in basic science course work. Infectious Diseases Fellows with interest in Microbiology, Cell Biology and other fields have a panoply of research options at MSKCC and at Rockefeller University and Weill Medical College..
