Courtesy of Meharry Medical College
Meharry Medical College is proud to recognize Dr. Brock Arivett, a postdoctoral fellow in the School of Medicine’s Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Physiology, who has been selected for the prestigious 2025 All of Us Data Fellow Program—a highly competitive opportunity that only 15 researchers nationwide get to experience annually. This is the first-time a researcher at Meharry has been recognized.
The National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program, in partnership with the University of Arizona and Banner Health, provides six months of specialized training, mentored research, and professional development to the researchers.
Dr. Arivett’s work focuses on understanding genetic factors related to tuberculosis and sarcoidosis in African-ancestry populations. Specifically, he’s investigating how the PLA2R1 loss-of-function frameshift variant might contribute to disease risk. This fellowship will also focus on genetic epidemiology, bioinformatics, and precision medicine—further strengthening Meharry’s mission to tackle health disparities through groundbreaking research.
Dr. Arivett was chosen from a pool of nearly 200 applicants from institutions like Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, and Vanderbilt. This recognition not only highlights his impressive research but also underscores Meharry’s growing impact in advancing health equity through data-driven science.
Currently in his second year as a postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Arivett earned his Ph.D. in 2020 at Middle Tennessee State University. He also serves as an ambassador for the NIH Loan Repayment Program. The Loan Repayment Programs repays qualified educational debt for scientists engaging in research relevant to the NIH mission.
About the School of Medicines Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Physiology at Meharry Medical College
The Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Physiology at Meharry Medical College is dedicated to advancing research and developing treatments for infectious and cardiovascular diseases, particularly those affecting African American and disadvantaged minority populations. Faculty members lead innovative research in microbial pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions, immunity, and cardiovascular health, with findings published in leading journals such as Nature and Science.
The department also provides exceptional training for the next generation of scientists and health professionals through NIH-supported programs in Molecular Microbial Pathogenesis and Cardiovascular Biology. Graduates have gone on to successful careers in academia, government agencies like the NIH and CDC, and the biopharmaceutical industry.