Immunology

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Apply knowledge of fundamental concepts to solving problems relating to experimental immunology.
• Identify the role of innate and adaptive immunity, highlighting the key differences between these systems.
• Define the cellular ontogeny and organ involvement in immunity.
• Examine and evaluate how the immune system responds in disease.
• Describe the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in an immune response.
• Critically analyse, evaluate and interpret data from recent published immunological literature.

The module will cover the major topics in cellular and molecular immunology in understanding the role of immunity in protection against pathogens and cancer. The module begins with an overview of the fundamentals of the immune system, including the innate immune responses; response to infection, inflammatory responses and NK cell responses. Adaptive immune responses are explored including antigen processing and presentation to T and B cells and antigen recognition, T cell receptor, T cell subsets and effector functions as well as B cells, B cell receptor diversity and repertoire and antibody responses. This knowledge will then be translated into disease contexts from the immunological perspective.

The module will also cover critical appraisal of current immunological research outputs, with selected research articles as the focus of any journal club sessions.

Teaching will be a mixture of formal lectures supplemented with small group teaching in the form of workshops and/or journal clubs to consolidate and apply learning.

Independent study is also expected as part of this module.

Consultation with course tutors to develop research proposals on a relevant theme taught within the course is highly encouraged.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.