M4I: Maryland Infection, Immunization, Intervention, and Impact Training Program
Overview
The M4I: Maryland Infection, Immunization, Intervention, and Impact Training Program is a longitudinal research program focusing on infectious diseases and immunology. M4I provides structured training and robust mentorship to inspire and prepare the next generation of infectious disease and immunology researchers.
Eligibility for this program is limited to University of Maryland medical students.
M4I is supported and administered by the Office of Student Research, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, and Institute of Human Virology.
"The field of infectious diseases is kinetic, unpredictable, and layered with surprises that sometime require heroic efforts from a diverse field of scientists and practitioners."
-John Bartlett (2014)
What to Look Forward to
Students participating in the M4I program will have access to
- Top faculty mentors across UMB conducting cutting-edge research in infectious diseases and immunology
- Biostatics training and individualized support from skilled epidemiologists
- A funded summer research experience and activities to expand your skills and broaden your exposure to these fascinating and critically important fields
- Clinical experiences with peers and fellows to learn more about the field
- Funding to support research costs, travel to conferences, publications, and more
- Mentorship, and career and residency advising
See Program Activities for more details.
Why Study Infectious Diseases and Immunology?
Infectious diseases are a dynamic and rapidly evolving field of medicine. As witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, new infectious threats are continuously on the horizon. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been new outbreaks of Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Oropouche virus, Avian influenza, and Marburg virus, just to name a few. Research into these outbreaks, human immunology, and vaccine development is critical. The field needs the best and brightest new researchers to tackle these emerging problems.
The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) is an international leader in infectious diseases research, particularly in the areas of vaccine development, HIV, global health, and genomics. UMSOM is also deeply committed to research education for medical students and instituted a requirement that all students engage in a hypothesis-driven scholarly activity.
The M4I: Maryland Infection, Immunization, Intervention, and Impact Training Program builds a bridge between medical students and the extraordinary infectious diseases and immunology expertise at UMSOM.
The program will enroll a diverse group of medical students to establish a cohort of trainees who will participate in formal research training and develop a hypothesis-driven research project with the support of their faculty mentors, methodological experts, and their peers. They will continue to work together as a longitudinal research track cohort for their medical school career, with opportunities to receive additional funding for research electives and more advanced training.
Program Leadership
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(from left to right)
Fiama Romero, Dr. Miriam Laufer, Dr. David Riedel
Miriam Laufer, MD, MPH
M4I Program Leader, Principal Investigator
Professor of Pediatrics
Interim Director
Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health
David Riedel, MD, MPH
M4I Program Leader, Principal Investigator
Associate Professor of Medicine
Director, Infectious Disease Fellowship Program
Institute of Human Virology
Fiama Romero, MS
Program Manager