Advanced Immunology

Aims

Immunology is central to many areas of medicine. The importance of immunology has been highlighted during the current global pandemic with the race to understand the virus, SARS-CoV2, and to develop new vaccines to protect against COVID-19. Our evolving understanding of the fundamental, scientific aspects of immunology has also been critical for the rational design of new therapeutic strategies and the treatment of disease. For example, therapeutic antibodies can be highly effective to treat autoimmune diseases, suppress transplant rejection and enhance anti-cancer responses. CAR-T cells now offer potential cures for some haematological malignancies.

This course starts from first principles and builds up to a detailed knowledge of the basic scientific principles, and the clinical and applied aspects, of immunology. It takes an integrated approach whereby, each week, lectures and tutorials in the scientific aspects are supplemented by problem-based learning (PBL) sessions which explore clinical cases in immunology. The course builds on many years’ experience of teaching immunology at all levels by Prof Jon Austyn of the University of Oxford which was, this year, recognised as the top university in the world.

Syllabus

Two themes will be covered in parallel. The first theme will focus on the fundamental, scientific principles of immunology, and will provide a comprehensive overview of innate and adaptive immunity and immunological tolerance; it will also explore ‘transitional immunity’ provided by innate-like lymphoid cells. The second theme will focus on essential concepts in clinical and therapeutic immunology and introduce the main areas of immunologically-based disease and key treatments for each.

Molecular and Cellular Immunology

1. Innate Immunity

2. T cell-mediated immunity

3. Antibody-mediated immunity

4. Immunological tolerance

Clinical and Applied Immunology

5. Infection and Immunity

6. Primary immunodeficiencies

7. Allergy and autoimmune diseases

8. Transplantation and Cancer Immunology

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will have:

·         Increased their understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of immunity and tolerance;

·         Gained insight into different types of immunological diseases and immune-based therapies;

·         Learnt how to apply their knowledge across the two main themes;

·         Acquired some appreciation of what we do not yet know in some areas; and

·         Improved their presentation skills during the PBL sessions.

Further reading

TBC