SIIK16005U Immune Therapy

Volume 2016/2017
Education

Msc in Immunology and Inflammation, elective course

Content

This course will cover many different aspects of immune therapy with the aim to give the students a broad understanding of strategies for treatment of immune diseases, biological consequences and adverse effects upon treatment, in addition to drug discovery and development. The course will give basic knowledge in pharmacology and pharmacodynamics, as well as strategies for drug delivery. Anti-inflammatory drugs, which are some of the most common over the counter drugs, will be discussed together with newer strategies for treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases and the concept of biopharmaceuticals. Immunoglobulin therapy, vaccination and gene therapy, as well as effects of probiotics and immune modulators will be lectured. One part of the course will cover diagnosis and the assessment of immune therapy, where, in addition, personalized medicine for inflammatory diseases will be discussed.

One important goal with this course is that the students should gain insight into drug discovery and development of drugs for immune related diseases. This will be discussed during the last part of the course, but should form a framework for tutorials and discussions during the entire course. The goal is that the students will acquire substantial knowledge to be capable to understand and critically discuss new drug development projects, within the area of immune therapy, with researchers in both academia and the industry.

Learning Outcome

The overall objective of this course is to give the student a substantial insight into the field of therapy for immune related diseases.

After completing the course the student is expected to be able to:

 

Knowledge:

• explain basic pharmacological concepts within pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics

• discuss acute and chronic inflammatory conditions, common drugs for treatment, and adverse effects of the drugs used

• describe drugs within the group of biopharmaceuticals; efficacy and adverse effects

• discuss gene therapy for immune related diseases

• discuss immunotoxicology caused by drugs

• discuss pre- and probiotics and immune modulators in the context of treatment for immune diseases

• explain how some immune diseases are diagnosed and describe specific diagnostic tools

• discuss biomarkers and personalized medicine for inflammatory diseases

• briefly summarize the general drug development phases, including drug discovery, clinical trials, and regulatory affairs

 

Skills:

• hypothesize different treatment regimens for a common inflammatory disease, based on old and new therapy

• design experimental set-ups for testing of novel drug candidates

• suggest new strategies for studies of novel drug targets in immune diseases

• propose strategies for developing new diagnostics for diseases in the immune system

• design experiments to investigate adverse effects of novel drugs

 

Competences: (the student will obtain these general competences)

• Will be able to discuss drug development projects within immune therapy and assess the project design

• Can critically analyze and discuss data from drug development projects

• Will be able to discuss scientific projects and new findings within the area of immune therapy with researchers, clinicians, stake holders, patients associations, and others

 

Principles of Immunopharmacology. Edited by Nijkamp, F.P.; Parnham, M. J. Springer, 2011 (new edition expected before start of the course).

Basic Principles of Drug Discovery and Development. Edited by Blass, B. Elsevier, 2015.

Original articles and reviews.

Participated and passed previous course in Advanced Basic Immunology is recommended.
Lectures, tutorials, journal clubs, small individual study project and presentation of individual study.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 3
  • Exam Preparation
  • 20
  • Lectures
  • 25
  • Preparation
  • 50
  • Preparation
  • 47
  • Project work
  • 43
  • Theory exercises
  • 18
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination, 3 hours under invigilation
The exam consists of a set of issues that draw from course content. In addition, the student should be prepared to suggest a conceivable plan for a specific drug development project.
Aid
All aids allowed

Apart from the standard programs and IT tools listed under The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at http://pc-eksamen.ku.dk/pc_exam students will at this exam also have the possibility to use a USB stick (for notes etc.)

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student shall be able to:

 

Knowledge:

• explain basic pharmacological concepts within pharmacokinetics and  pharmacodynamics

• discuss acute and chronic inflammatory conditions, common drugs for treatment, and adverse effects of the drugs used

• describe drugs within the group of biopharmaceuticals; efficacy and adverse effects

• discuss gene therapy for immune related diseases

• discuss immunotoxicology caused by drugs

• discuss pre- and probiotics and immune modulators in the context of treatment for immune diseases

• explain how some immune diseases are diagnosed and describe specific diagnostic tools

• discuss biomarkers and personalized medicine for inflammatory diseases

• briefly summarize the general drug development phases, including drug discovery, clinical trials, and regulatory affairs

 

Skills:

• hypothesize different treatment regimens for a common inflammatory disease, based on old and new therapy

• suggest experimental set-ups for testing of novel drug candidates

• suggest new strategies for studies of novel drug targets in immune diseases

• propose strategies for developing new diagnostics for diseases in the immune system

• suggest experiments to investigate adverse effects of novel drugs

 

Competences:

• discuss drug development projects within immune therapy and assess the project design

• critically analyze and discuss data from drug development projects