Undergraduate Course: Therapeutic Immunology (IMMU10012)

Course Outline
School	School of Biological Sciences	College	College of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)	SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate)	Availability	Not available to visiting students
SCQF Credits	10	ECTS Credits	5
Summary	Immunopathology caused by autoimmune and allergic diseases is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in western populations. They result from failures in immune tolerance mechanisms, thereby allowing unwanted immunity to self (autoimmunity) or to innocuous non-self antigens such as food (allergy). Transplant rejection is a related problem, in that there is a lack of established tolerance to allogeneic antigens expressed by the transplanted organ. In each of these pathologic scenarios there is a need for improved immunotherapy, because currently there are no cures and life-long immunosuppression, or the use of very potent immunomodulatory biologics, have significant adverse effects. In this course we shall develop an understanding of the pathways leading to these diseases, with particular emphasis on how we can treat these currently, and how we might better treat them with more effective, directed therapies in the future. We shall draw on various fundamental aspects of immunology the role of MHC, antigen processing and presentation, the role of co-stimulation in the immune response, cytokines, etc. Therefore the core immunology course will be required for this course. The course will involve a mixture of lectures and problem-based learning with an emphasis on discussion of the controversial aspects of the subject. By the end of the course the student will be expected to have an understanding of the topic within the context of general immune mechanisms.
Course description	In this course we shall develop an understanding of the pathways leading to these diseases, with particular emphasis on how we can treat these currently, and how we might better treat them with more effective, directed therapies in the future.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites	Students MUST have passed: Immunology 3 (BILG09007) It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Clinical Immunology & Haematology 3B (MSBM09004)	Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations		Other requirements	None

Course Delivery Information

Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1)		Quota: 38
Course Start	Semester 2
Course Start Date	16/01/2023
Timetable	Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info)	Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 24, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 72 )
Assessment (Further Info)	Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment)	In course assessment: In course assessment by poster presentation held in the final session of the course.
Feedback	Not entered
No Exam Information

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to: A good understanding of the current field of immunotherapy. Advanced skills in reading and understanding the primary literature. Development of scientific problem solving skills Advanced skills in reading, understanding and discussing the primary literature. Understanding of how to effectively convey information in a poster format.