Undergraduate - Area of study Immunology

The immune system is central to many key areas of health and disease. It provides the host with a highly sophisticated strategy for defence against invading micro-organisms including viruses, bacteria and larger parasites but is also responsible for allergies, autoimmunity and rejection of tissue transplants. The study of immunology provides a framework for understanding how our immune system is structured and generated and how it provides defences against pathogens but can also be involved in unwanted responses such as allergy, autoimmunity and the rejection of tissues. Understanding the cellular and molecular basis of the immune system is not only important for vaccine development but also for understanding and devising treatments of many immune associated disorders. There is also evidence that the immune system can target cancer cells and thus has an important and fundamental role in maintaining host health and homeostasis.

An involvement of the immune system in disease and health is expanding. We have a clear understanding of immunity as the basis of vaccination against common pathogens such as diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis, cervical cancer, etc, so we are protected upon future exposure. However, allergic diseases such as hay fever, asthma and food allergies are examples of diseases associated with dysregulation of the immune response, as are autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis in which the immune system targets defined organs. In transplantation of tissues such as heart, lung and kidney, the immune system must be controlled to prevent rejection. Emerging fields in immunology include how diet can influence immunity. These are examples of immunology in our everyday lives and for which there are still questions and problems to be answered.

Knowledge of the mechanisms for coordination and regulation of the immune system is an exciting and rapidly advancing frontier in many areas of human health. A better understanding of how the immune system functions, and can be manipulated, will have major implications for many research areas such as improving vaccine development for diseases such as AIDS, influenza, malaria and cancer as well as devising targeted cures for autoimmune diseases and allergy, overcoming immunodeficiencies and preventing tissue rejection following transplantation.

A basic understanding of immunology may complement a number of branches of the biomedical sciences such as microbiology, pathology, biochemistry and stem cell biology.

Learning outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

• define and describe the principle features associated with the structure, development and function of the immune system through theoretical and practical based knowledge
• define the physical, cellular and molecular processes associated with the development of pathologies exemplified by processes of inflammatory, immunological haematological and neoplastic disorders through theoretical and practical based knowledge
• demonstrate the role of science and the scientific process in identifying the key questions, issues and challenges associated with Immunology and immunity or human disease and how this can used to design and examine effective solutions, through written or oral based tasks
• collect, evaluate and integrate information drawn from a range of sources to generate written and oral outputs that highlight the importance of understanding immunity and human pathology to benefit both human knowledge and health
• generate, evaluate, interpret and assemble scientific data and information generated through tutorial, practical or mini-project based tasks to compose written and oral reports based on immunological or pathological principles or current research laboratory activities
• identify and gather information on key immunological or human pathological concepts to compare, evaluate, criticise and contrast and present as an independent written piece or oral presentation to peers
• demonstrate effective and constructive participation in small group activities in both practical and tutorial-based classes aimed at completing a defined written and/or oral task
• demonstrate through written, oral or interactive exercises an awareness and development of professional and social responsibilities associated with their ability of utilising knowledge and training towards developing a better world.