Mechanisms of pediatric overweight and obesity underlying susceptibility to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C)

PROJECT SUMMARY The proposed studies for this diversity supplement will provide career development and in-depth training in translational immunology for a talented candidate with a Master's degree in Cellular and Molecular Pathobiology. The parent grant for this application investigates the mechanisms by which pediatric overweight and obesity increase the risk of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a severe pediatric complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In leading the proposed studies, the candidate will develop expertise in concepts of inflammatory signaling and in widely applicable methods used to measure human immune cell activation. From this work, we anticipate that the candidate will publish at least one first-author paper and a present at the national Clinical Immunology Society meeting in 2023. Mentorship from two successful physician-scientist investigators, combined with collaborative interactions with the parent grant study team, will provide highly relevant career development opportunities towards the candidate's goal of obtaining an MD/PhD at the interface of immunity and infectious pathogens.