Overview
The defense of the host is largely the purview of the immune system, which is essential for the survival and well-being of humans. Failure of the immune system to respond leads to an inability to combat infectious disease agents, while an improperly regulated immune system can lead to the destruction of normal cells, such as found in autoimmune diseases or diabetes.
One only needs to look at the devastating consequences of HIV infection to realize the importance of the immune system for protection against infection and tumors. Even normal immune function can lead to a pathogenic state, such as pneumonia in response to microbial infection. Thus, the study of immunology is central to an understanding of host defense and warrants a specialized transcript designation for students in the program who meet the requirements outlined below. This designation will be applied to transcripts for students who study in any of the following areas of immunology:
- Basic immunological concepts and immune system components
- Diseases arising from immune system insufficiency
- Diseases arising from hyperactivity of the immune system
- Manipulation of the immune system to restore or otherwise improve human health
The core curriculum will provide the major foundation for graduate students in immunology, while specialized courses, elective seminars, and journal clubs will allow students to gain a more in-depth understanding of immunological concepts and rapidly emerging research in the field. The faculty that have expertise in immunology form a cohesive unit but represent a range of departmental and college affiliations.
A formal Immunology seminar series has been in place within the College of Medicine since 1978. Moreover, a five-credit hour graduate course in immunology is team-taught each fall by faculty that are active in immunology research. These faculty members came together approximately 6-7 years ago to develop a single campus-wide course in immunology. The specialized curriculum that will be required of students requesting the transcript designation of immunology has already been established and adjusted to meet the changing needs of research in this area.
The faculty members with special expertise in immunology have outstanding national and international reputations in research and graduate education. The National Institutes of Health has recently recognized their graduate educational prominence by awarding this group with a highly competitive training grant entitled “Training Program in Integrative Immunobiology.” Virginia Sanders, PhD, is the Principal Investigator of this grant that will support both pre-doctoral and postdoctoral trainees.
Contact:
Purnima Dubey, PhD
Faculty Liaison
Recommended Curriculum
a-Students must complete the following course:
MEDMCIM 7010 Molecular and Cellular Immunology (3 credits/SPRING). (Instructors: Purnima Dubey- Purnima.dubey@osumc.edu, Abhay Satoskar, Hazem Ghoneim- Hazem.Ghoneim@osumc.edu). Cellular and molecular mechanisms of immune response, cell recognition and communication, molecular biology of cell recognition structures, cytokines, and effector mechanisms.
b-Students must complete one elective course from the following list:
PATHOL 7847 Cellular Mechanisms and Pathogenesis of Inflammation (2 credits/every other SPR) (Instructor: Traci Wilgus- wilgus.3@osu.edu; AU 2020/2022/2024). Inflammatory processes in the human host due to interaction with viruses, bacteria, parasites, foreign antigens, or physical trauma and new immunological therapeutic strategies being developed. Prereq: MEDMCIM 7010, or permission of instructor.
MEDMCIM 8010 Selected Topics in Advanced Immunology (3 credits/each AU). (Course Directors: Dr. Stephanie Seveau - stephanie.seveau@osumc.edu & Dr. Jerry Lio - jerry.lio@osumc.edu) Students will gain significant insight into innate and adaptive immunity, including immune cell development and activation, infectious diseases, vaccines, transplant immunology, cancer immunology, allergies and autoimmune diseases. Prereq: 7010.
Courses below may be used towards Immuno Emphasis but may no longer be offered.
CBG 8845 The History of Immunology (3 credits/every other AU). (Instructor: Dr. Jianhua Yu AU 2017/2019/2021) Understand immunology and pertinent research, students must understand its history so to appreciate where the field of immunology started, the progress and discoveries made. MVIMG 7010 is recommended but not required.
c-Students must complete a total of 4 credit hours, or 5 credit hours if PATHOL7847 was selected in (b), of Immunology Seminars and Journal Clubs including at least one Immunology seminar and one immunology journal club. The courses from which to choose are:
Seminars
PATHOL 8850 Seminars in Pathology. (1 credit, AU&SP) (Instructors: Rolf Barth- rolf.barth@osumc.edu and Wael Jarjour- wael.jarjour@osumc.edu). Prominent External and Ohio State Faculty seminars in immunopathology on Tuesdays 12-1 pm at Prior Health Sciences Library 400. The seminar covers a broad range of topics in Immunology research, including cancer, autoimmunity, infectious diseases and molecular Immunology. Repeatable to a maximum of 14 cr hrs. This course is graded S/U.BSGP 7950 Host‐Pathogen Interactions: Research Seminar. (Instructor: Matthew Anderson- matthew.anderson@osumc.edu; AU/Spr) Faculty, students and outside speakers will give research presentations on microbial‐host interactions.
HTHRHSC 7595 Translational Neuroimmunology (1 credit, AU, SP). (Instructor: Mireia Guerau- mireia.guerau@osumc.edu) (Faculty, students and outside speakers will give research presentation sin Neuroimmunology; Students develop skills in teaching, analyzing, discussing, synthesizing and presenting research in NeuroImmunology). Please contact if interested in summer offering
MDMCIM 5500/7500 Recent Discoveries in Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis (1 credit, AU). (Instructor: Mark Drew- drew.47@osu.edu) (Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity Seminar Series (MIISS) and Journal Club; Students learn by searching and reading research articles and becoming familiar with the research of the MIISS seminar speaker)
Journal Clubs
BSGP 7880 Vaccine Immunology (1 credit/both Fall and Spring). (Instructor Dr. Mark Peeples). Trainees will prepare and give presentations on current research on immunological mechanisms of pediatric diseases. Prereq: Enrollment in BSGP, and permission of instructor. Repeatable to a maximum of 2 cr hrs.
BSGP 7900 Cancer Immunology: Critical Journal Readings (1 credit/AU). (Instructor: Dr. Thomas Mace- Thomas.Mace@osumc.edu). Faculty, students and postdoctoral fellows will give critical interpretations of research and journal readings on cancer immunology.
Courses below may be used towards Immuno Emphasis but have not been recently offered.
INTMED 8891.01 Seminar Allergy/Immunology (1 credit) (administrative contact: Lindsey.Ruff@osumc.edu) Discussion of pertinent literature and research projects in various subspecialty areas with emphasis on basic science concepts. Check contact for offering semester. Repeatable.
MDMCIM 5500/7500 Recent Discoveries in Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis (1 credit, AU). (Instructor: Mark Drew- drew.47@osu.edu) (Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity Seminar Series (MIISS) and Journal Club; Students learn by searching and reading research articles and becoming familiar with the research of the MIISS seminar speaker)
d-Students must present the findings of their original research during their last year in one of the following courses designed for student presentations (registration is not required):
BSGP 7972 Cancer Immunology: Research Seminar Presentation. (Instructors: Chris Oakes and Hua Zhu; AU/SP/SUM). Faculty, students and postdoctoral fellows will give research presentations on cancer immunology.HTHRHSC 7595 Translational Neuroimmunology (1 credit, AU&SP). (Instructor: Mireia Guerau- mireia.guerau@osumc.edu) (Students develop skills in teaching, analyzing, discussing, synthesizing and presenting research in NeuroImmunology).
BSGP 7950 Host‐Pathogen Interactions: Research Seminar. (Instructor: Dr. Matthew Anderson AU/Spr) Faculty, students and outside speakers will give research presentations on microbial‐host interactions.