Infection, Inflammation and Immunity

Study infectious and inflammatory diseases and immunology, as well as their interactions and how these relate to human disease.

Description

Infectious and inflammatory diseases remain a major threat to global health. This research theme covers the study of infectious and inflammatory diseases and the role of the immune system in their pathology and control. You will select a 20-week practical laboratory placement to investigate disease pathogenesis and control, and complete a 10,000 word research project report.

These projects will investigate biochemical, pathological, genetic, and epidemiological aspects of infectious and inflammatory diseases and function of the immune system in both laboratory-and-bioinformatics-based studies.

The laboratory placement will provide a sound introduction to the most up-to-date information on these subject areas. You will also learn current and advanced approaches for investigating infectious and inflammatory diseases and immunology, for example, using a combination of genetic models and bioinformatic analyses to understand the mechanisms underlying immune cell function.

The course includes a mandatory taught element to provide both essential research skills and training for biomedical science and specialised content related to immunology,  infections and inflammatory disease.

Topics covered within this theme include:

• Infectious Diseases
• Mechanisms of Inflammatory Disease
• Immune Response to Infection

Skills covered

• research techniques (determined by choice of lab project)
• ability to read papers and extract the relevant information
• presentation skills