Basic and applied Immunology
Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences at University of Copenhagen
This course is free of charge for PhD students at Danish universities (except Copenhagen Business School), and for PhD Students from NorDoc member faculties. All other participants must pay the course fee.
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student at a Danish university, you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. This also applies to PhD students from NorDoc member faculties. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to applicants on the waiting list.
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is that the student can interpret and understand immunological parameters in basic and disease-oriented research projects.
A student who has met the objectives of the course will:
a. Understand the basic principles of innate immunity and how it bridges to adaptive immunity.
b. Understand principles of adaptive immunity, including development and interaction of immune cells during adaptive immunity.
c. Have a solid knowledge on diseases caused by malfunctioning of the immune system due to pathogens or lack of immune stimulation.
d. Have expert competencies in novel concepts of immunotherapy, vaccines and immunological involvement in diseases development and progression.
e. Have skills in performing and understanding modern methods used in immunological laboratories.
f. Be able to comprehensively present and discuss immunological projects.
Content
Six parts consisting of afternoon sessions with student prepared lectures and theroretical exercises and discussions. Each session is preceded by e-learning and own reading in a recommended textbook. Three days with laboratory exercises, questions and discussions.
The six parts are:
Basic concepts and Innate immunity (10/2-25)
- Basic concepts in immunology
- Innate immunity, first line defense
- Induced innate immunity and bridge to adaptive immunity
Recognition of antigen by B and T lymphocytes (17/2-25)
- Antigen recognition by lymphocytes, BCR and TCR
- The concept of adaptive immunity; Development of lymphocytes and their antigen receptors
- Antigen presentation to T lymphocytes
Principles of adaptive immunity (24/2-2025)
- T lymphocyte-mediated immunity
- B lymphocyte-mediated immunity, use of antibodies
- Dynamics and memory of adaptive immunity
The immune system in health and disease (3/3-2025)
- The mucosal immune system, interaction with pathogens
- Mechanisms of Immune evasion
- Immunodeficiency and diseases
Allergy and Autoimmunity (10/3-2025)
- Mechanisms behind allergic reactions and diseases
- Autoimmunity and diseases
- Transplantation
Treatment and manipulation of the immune system (17/3-2025)
- Current treatment strategies targeting the immune system
- Development and mechanisms of vaccines
State of the art techniques used in immunological research: Practical exercises (1-3/4-2025)
Participants
The course host students from a broad range of studies including Biomedicine, Pharmacology, Medicine and Veterinary-medicine
Relevance to graduate programmes
The course is relevant to PhD students from the following graduate programmes at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, UCPH:
All graduate programmes
Language
English
Form
The curriculum will be taught by lectures and seminars given by course teachers and the students, and laboratory exercises. The curriculum will be based on the textbook: Janeway’s Immunobiology 10th Edition. The course will end with an oral examination of approximately 15 min., grades: Acceptable or Not acceptable.
Course director
Hanne Frøkiær, Professor, Inst of Veternary and Animal Sciences, KU,hafr@sund.ku.dk
Teachers
Professor Søren Skov, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, KU, sosk@sund.ku.dk
Professor Hanne Frøkiær, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, KU, hafr@sund.ku.dk
Dates
Afternoon sessions (13-17): 27/1, 10/2, 17/2, 24/2, 3/3, 10/3, 17/3-2025
Lab exercises (9-17 ): 1-3/4-2025
Course location
University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg
Registration
Please register before 6/1-2025
Expected frequency
The same weeks each year
Seats to PhD students from other Danish universities will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules.
Applications from other participants will be considered after the last day of enrolment.
Note: All applicants are asked to submit invoice details in case of no-show, late cancellation or obligation to pay the course fee (typically non-PhD students). If you are a PhD student, your participation in the course must be in agreement with your principal supervisor.