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Genetics, Nutritional Sciences T32 training grant programs renewed by NIH

Two T32 training grant programs housed in UW–Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences — the Predoctoral Training Program in Genetics and the Molecular and Applied Nutrition Training Program — were recently renewed by the National Institutes of Health, maintaining well over $1 million in funding that supports affordable graduate education opportunities.

The mission of T32 grants are to prepare qualified individuals for careers that have a significant impact on the health-related research needs of the nation.

Genetics Professor Audrey Gasch directs the Predoctoral Training Program in Genetics, which will have 12 annual stipend slots for graduate students for the next five years.

“The renewal of this training grant carries us into 49 years of continuous NIH funding for the UW genetics program,” said Gasch. “That is very meaningful in this day and age. The fact that this grant has been continually funded is a real testament to the strength of genetics at UW–Madison and within CALS.”

Rick Eisenstein, professor of nutritional sciences, directs the Molecular and Applied Nutrition Training Program (MANTP), and says the program trains students and postdoctoral scientists in nutrition and metabolism research with a “molecules to societies” approach. It will have five predoctoral and four postdoctoral slots for the next five years.

“We are pleased that our cross-college program will be entering its 26th year,” said Eisenstein. “The fact that NIH increased our number of predoctoral slots shows the strength of our program compared to other nutrition programs across the country.”

CALS also houses a third T32 program – the Biotechnology Training Program – which currently provides support to 21 trainees in various graduate programs across campus. It is up for competitive renewal in 2020.