Immunobiology

Courses

For a complete listing of immunology-related courses, see

IBIO 503b, Responsible Conduct of Research, Refresher Course  Staff

The NIH requires that students receive training in the responsible conduct of research every four years. This course meets that requirement for fourth-year students. The course has two components: (1) one large-group session is held for all fourth-year students through the BBS; the main topics are scientific misconduct and authorship; (2) two Immunobiology faculty facilitate discussions based on RCR topics, gathered in advance from the students; anonymous or hypothetical stories are selected by the faculty and discussed in a workshop environment in which students are then asked to analyze each case and suggest courses of actions.
HTBA

IBIO 530a / MBIO 530a / MCDB 530a, Biology of the Immune System  Eric Meffre, David Schatz, Peter Cresswell, Jordan Pober, Joao Pedro Pereira, Ruslan Medzhitov, Craig Roy, Nikhil Joshi, Aaron Ring, Noah Palm, Kevan Herold, Carla Rothlin, and Carrie Lucas

The development of the immune system. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of immune recognition. Effector responses against pathogens. Immunologic memory and vaccines. Human diseases including allergy, autoimmunity, cancer, immunodeficiency, HIV/AIDS.
MWF 9:25am-10:15am

IBIO 531b, Advanced Immunology  Noah Palm

The historical development and central paradigms of key areas in immunology. The course attempts to develop a clear understanding of how these paradigms were established experimentally. Landmark studies are discussed to determine how the conclusions were obtained and why they were important at the time they were done. Lecture and discussion format; readings of primary research papers and review articles. Prerequisite: IBIO 530 or equivalent. Enrollment limited to fifteen.
TTh 2:30pm-3:45pm

IBIO 532b, Inflammation  Ruslan Medzhitov

This course covers fundamentals of inflammation from a broad biological perspective, with a focus on both physiological and pathological aspects of inflammation.
HTBA

IBIO 536a, Immunobiology Seminar: Neuroimmunology  Carla Rothlin

This course explores the diverse array of interactions between the immune and nervous systems, both in homeostasis and disease settings, including but not limited to neurodegenerative, vascular, and malignant diseases.
Th 2:30pm-4:30pm

IBIO 537b, Immunobiology Seminar: Translational Immunobiology  Kevin O'Connor

This course is designed to introduce immunobiology Ph.D. students to translational research and medicine. Each weekly seminar focuses on a specific disease with a conspicuous immunological component. In-class periods consist of very interactive, didactic sections covering disease phenotype, underlying immunobiology and pathology, and mechanisms of treatment approaches, including limitations. Discussions are led by principal investigators who focus on human translational immunology and by clinician-scientists who see patients in associated clinics. Examples of topics include: T and B cell contributions to the underlying pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, myasthenia gravis, and other autoimmune diseases; immune responses to acute brain injury; inherited immune disorders; paradigms governing how antitumor immune responses are promoted or suppressed; and current approaches in immunotherapy-based clinical trials. Assignments challenge students to think creatively about solutions to problems that obstruct the progress toward understanding disease mechanisms and developing therapeutics. A term assignment, in the form of a research proposal, focuses on independent study of a translational immunobiology problem of each student’s choosing. Students are provided with elective opportunities for experiential learning through clinic visits with course faculty instructors. The combination of medical knowledge and interaction with translational and clinician-scientists provides a new perspective to immunobiology Ph.D. students that broadens their basic science training. The exposure to the practice of medicine enables them (and other graduate students) to work more confidently at the interface of research and medicine and facilitate collaborations with clinical investigators. Prerequisite: IBIO 531 or a similar course that provides a solid foundation in fundamental immunology; may be waived for highly motivated students.
F 1:30pm-3:20pm

IBIO 600a, Introduction to Research: Faculty Research Presentations  Carla Rothlin

Introduction to the research interests of the faculty. Required of all first-year Immunology/BBS students. Pass/Fail.
T 5pm-6pm

IBIO 601b, Fundamentals of Research: Responsible Conduct of Research  Carla Rothlin

A weekly seminar presented by faculty trainers on topics relating to proper conduct of research. Required of first-year Immunobiology students, first-year CB&B students, and training grant-funded postdocs. Pass/Fail.
HTBA

IBIO 611a, Research Rotation 1  Carla Rothlin

Intensive experience in the design and execution of experiments in immunology or other areas of biology. Students design a focused research project in consultation with a faculty mentor and execute the designed experiments in the mentor’s laboratory. Students are expected to read relevant background papers from the literature, design and perform experiments, interpret the resulting data, and propose follow-up experiments. Students are also expected to attend the mentor’s weekly lab meeting(s) as well as weekly Immunobiology departmental seminars and Research in Progress seminars. The course concludes with the student giving a brief presentation of the work performed at Rotation Talks, attended by other first-year immunology-track graduate students. Evaluation is by the mentor; students also evaluate the rotation experience. Students must turn in a prioritized list of four possible mentors to Barbara Cotton in the office of the director of graduate studies at least one week prior to the beginning of the course. Mentors are assigned by the DGS. Graded Pass/Fail. 1 course credit; minimum of 20 hours/week. Required of all first-year Immunology/BBS students.
HTBA

IBIO 612b, Research Rotation 2  Carla Rothlin

Intensive experience in the design and execution of experiments in immunology or other areas of biology. Students design a focused research project in consultation with a faculty mentor and execute the designed experiments in the mentor’s laboratory. Students are expected to read relevant background papers from the literature, design and perform experiments, interpret the resulting data, and propose follow-up experiments. Students are also expected to attend the mentor’s weekly lab meeting(s) as well as weekly Immunobiology departmental seminars and Research in Progress seminars. The course concludes with the student giving a brief presentation of the work performed at Rotation Talks, attended by other first-year immunology-track graduate students. Evaluation is by the mentor; students also evaluate the rotation experience. Students must turn in a prioritized list of four possible mentors to Barbara Cotton in the office of the director of graduate studies at least one week prior to the beginning of the course. Mentors are assigned by the DGS. Graded Pass/Fail. 1 course credit; minimum of 20 hours/week. Required of all first-year Immunology/BBS students.
HTBA

IBIO 613b, Research Rotation 3  Carla Rothlin

Intensive experience in the design and execution of experiments in immunology or other areas of biology. Students design a focused research project in consultation with a faculty mentor and execute the designed experiments in the mentor’s laboratory. Students are expected to read relevant background papers from the literature, design and perform experiments, interpret the resulting data, and propose follow-up experiments. Students are also expected to attend the mentor’s weekly lab meeting(s) as well as weekly Immunobiology departmental seminars and Research in Progress seminars. The course concludes with the student giving a brief presentation of the work performed at Rotation Talks, attended by other first-year immunology-track graduate students. Evaluation is by the mentor; students also evaluate the rotation experience. Students must turn in a prioritized list of four possible mentors to Barbara Cotton in the office of the director of graduate studies at least one week prior to the beginning of the course. Mentors are assigned by the DGS. Graded Pass/Fail. 1 course credit; minimum of 20 hours/week. Required of all first-year Immunology/BBS students.
HTBA