Immunology and Inflammatory Disease

The contribution of inflammation and immune dysfunction to a wide range of diseases, from arthritis to cancer to obesity is becoming increasingly clear.

The aim of this programme is to provide students with a holistic understanding of the science underlying the body’s Immune System (Immunology) and how the immune system causes Inflammatory Diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Asthma, Multiple Sclerosis and Cardiovascular Disease. Many graduates from this programme pursue a career in biomedical sciences often via PhD research, satisfying the demand for qualified research personnel in inflammatory disease research.

WHY THIS PROGRAMME

Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology for the purpose of meeting, in part, the academic and experience requirement for the Membership and Chartered Biologist (CBiol).
Receive training, advanced lectures and tutorials in modern cellular and molecular immunology by globally recognised experts. Top 10 in the UK for Biological Sciences
Opportunities are available to work with scientists, clinicians and pharmaceutical industry scientists on research and drug discovery to driving improvements in patient care in areas of critical international importance.
Attend the UK Congress of Immunology.
Help to identify new pathways by which inflammation can promote diseases and ultimately create better medicines for patients at the GLAZgo Discovery Unit, a unique facility established between the Respiratory, Inflammation, Autoimmunity Medicines Unit at AstraZeneca and the Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation.
Be part of finding new approaches that predict which treatment works best in Rheumatoid Arthritis
hrough the Arthritis Research UK (ARUK) Experimental Arthritis Treatment Centre which recruits local patients to test new and existing drugs.

The ARUK Rheumatoid Arthritis Pathogenesis Centre of Excellence (in collaboration with Birmingham and Newcastle Universities), aims to find out more about the causes of rheumatoid arthritis.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

The MSc programme will consist of five taught courses and a project or dissertation, spread over 11-12 months. Three courses are compulsory and two are chosen from a series of options.
The PgDip programme will consist of five taught courses, spread over 7-8 months, with three compulsory courses and two chosen from a series of options.
The PgCert programme consists of one core taught course over 3-4 months.

Core courses
IMMUNOLOGY AND INFLAMMATORY DISEASE: BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL AND CLINICAL
RESEARCH SKILLS FOR IMMUNOLOGY AND INFECTION BIOLOGY
DESIGNING A RESEARCH PROJECT: BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
MSC BIOSCIENCE RESEARCH PROJECT (IMMUNOLOGY & INFLAMMATORY DISEASE)

Optional courses
ANIMAL MODELS OF DISEASE
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNOLOGIES AND DEVICES
INTRODUCTION TO NEXT GENERATION SEQUENCING BIOINFORMATICS
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND COMMERCIALISATION OF BIOSCIENCE RESEARCH
EMERGING VIRUSES
NEUROINFLAMMATION IN HEALTH AND DISEASE
BIO-IMAGING FOR RESEARCH SCIENTISTS
OMIC ANALYSES FOR THE BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES: FROM GENOMICS TO METABOLOMIC

The course will include registration and attendance at the British Society for Immunology Annual Congress. This will enable:

- exposure to the best international immunological research.

- networking with prospective employers in academia and the pharmaceutical industry.

- excellent opportunities to engage with industrial and clinical scientists, with guest lecturers from the pharmaceutical industry, medical diagnostic laboratories and bioscience business.