Medical Immunosciences and Infection

The Master's programme in "Medical Immunosciences and Infection" at the Medical Faculty of the University of Bonn is a two-year, research-oriented, international study programme. It aims to immerse students in the fields of translational immunology and infectious diseases and to equip them with all of the essential skills for independent scientific work and a successful research career in academia and industry. The course content focuses on the underlying molecular mechanisms of immune-mediated, inflammatory and infectious diseases and the development of new immunomodulatory approaches for their treatment. Current concepts of immunology and infectious disease research will be discussed in lectures and literature seminars and can be directly applied to individual research projects. These research projects can be performed within the highly competitive and interdisciplinary research groups at the University Hospital Bonn, associated institutes or other national or international research institutions. The Master's course of study is part of the educational and training concept of the Bonn Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation3, which is a collaborative endeavour between the major centres of immunological research in Bonn: the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Mathematics / Natural Sciences (Department of Life and Medical Sciences) and the DZNE (German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases). Through their association with the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation3, students will have access to a wide variety of scientific courses, technical platforms and interdisciplinary local and international research groups. In addition, the scientific interactions within the cluster provide an unparalleled atmosphere of scientific exchange in which students will have contact with renowned experts in the field of innate immunity. Career opportunities: ImmunoSensation3 has developed a PhD student training programme, which has evolved into the Bonn International Graduate School Immunosciences and Infection (BIGS Immunosciences and Infection). This graduate school is closely associated with the Master's programme and offers a unique platform in collaboration with PhD students in the fields of immunology and infectious diseases in Bonn. The Master's programme is structured into thematically related and self-contained modules. Elective compulsory modules allow students to set their individual research priorities. Modules consist of lectures, workshops, practical courses and individual research projects. Lectures (first and second semester): The compulsory lectures in the first two semesters will provide in-depth education on the underlying mechanisms and treatment of diseases. They train in scientific writing and soft skills. Topics Immunology: components of the immune system, immunophysiology, immunogenetics, immune response Infection: virology, microbiology, treatment of infectious diseases, microbiome, basics in clinical diagnostic, pathogen to host interaction, clinical infectiology Clinical Immunology and Immunopharmacology: basic anatomy, immunopharmacology, immune diagnostics, fundamentals of clinical trials, general principles of inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases, transplantation, translational immunology, fundamentals of tumour immunology, rheumatology, anti-infective treatment Methods in Life Sciences and Statistics Ethical and Regulatory Aspects in Live Science and Scientific Presentation Elective lectures: These elective compulsory modules allow students to set their individual research priorities. Students choose at least one. Topics Developmental neurobiology Cellular neurobiology of disease Immunometabolism Immuno-oncology Introduction to molecular biology and biochemistry Nucleic acid recognition in antiviral innate immunity and autoinflammation T cell function Extracellular vesicles in innate immunity Practical course: Extracellular vesicles in innate immunity and virally-induced G4 structures Practical course: Insights