Fundamental Principles of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics

MEDN61870 Fundamental Principles of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics 30 Full year Postgraduate Taught Level 6 Stephine Whiteside Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 15.0 Indicative content of the unit includes:<ul><li>Fundamental immunological processes and immune components involved in maintaining immune tolerance.</li><li>Comprehensive coverage of structure and function of the genes encoded in the major histocompatibility gene complex.</li><li>A detailed understanding of the techniques and assays used in donor and recipient matching and their appropriate selection in clinical contexts</li><li>Renal function, clinical indications for transplantation, donor options and pre/post- transplant considerations.</li><li>The function of haemopoietic stem cells and bone marrow niche, clinical indications for transplant, donor options and pre-transplant considerations.</li><li>The principles of immunological tolerance in HLA-associated disorders and pharmacogenomic reactions</li><li>Quality assurance and legislative requirements for the histocompatibility and immunogenetics laboratory.</li><li>For students on the NHS Scientist Training Programme, this unit corresponds to <a href="https://curriculumlibrary.nshcs.org.uk/stp/module/S-HAI-S1/#academic-content">S-HAI-S1</a> in the NSHCS Curriculum Library.</li></ul> Indicative content of the unit includes: <ul> <li> Fundamental immunological processes and immune components involved in maintaining immune tolerance.</li> <li> Comprehensive coverage of structure and function of the genes encoded in the major histocompatibility gene complex.</li> <li> A detailed understanding of the techniques and assays used in donor and recipient matching and their appropriate selection in clinical contexts</li> <li> Renal function, clinical indications for transplantation, donor options and pre/post- transplant considerations.</li> <li> The function of haemopoietic stem cells and bone marrow niche, clinical indications for transplant, donor options and pre-transplant considerations.</li> <li> The principles of immunological tolerance in HLA-associated disorders and pharmacogenomic reactions</li> <li> Quality assurance and legislative requirements for the histocompatibility and immunogenetics laboratory.</li> <li> For students on the NHS Scientist Training Programme, this unit corresponds to <a href="https://curriculumlibrary.nshcs.org.uk/stp/module/S-HAI-S1/#academic-content"> S-HAI-S1</a> in the NSHCS Curriculum Library.</li> </ul> This unit aims to provide you with an advanced understanding of the fundamental scientific principles that underpin the practice of the histocompatibility and immunogenetics clinical service. You will develop knowledge of the integrated role of components within the immune system that permit a state of mutual immunological tolerance with an emphasis on the genes encoded in the major histocompatibility gene complex. You will learn about the techniques and assays that support the work of the histocompatibility and immunogenetics laboratory and learn to interpret laboratory results in a variety of clinical settings. Using renal transplantation as an exemplar of solid organ transplantation, you will discuss the immunological considerations for the clinical preparation and post-transplant monitoring of patients undergoing solid organ transplantation. In parallel, you begin to develop your understanding of the donor selection and pre-transplant work-up of patients undergoing haemopoietic stem cell transplantation in uncomplicated scenarios. You will review the diseases and pharmocogenomic reactions that human leucocyte antigens genotypes and phenotypes are known to have varying levels of association. Finally, you will evaluate the legislative requirements that form the regulation of the histocompatibility and immunogenetics clinical laboratory service. Students will be able to: <ol> <li> Explain the coordination of the components of the immune system in the context of generating and maintaining immunological tolerance in transplantation.</li> <li> Critically appraise the advantages and limitations of the techniques and assays available in histocompatibility and immunogenetics.</li> <li> Discuss the pre-transplant work-up of patients undergoing renal transplantation.</li> <li> Discuss the post-transplant management of patients undergoing renal transplantation including the mechanisms of graft rejection and immunosuppressive therapies.</li> <li> Discuss the pre-transplant work-up of patients and donors undergoing matched related and unrelated haemopoietic progenitor cell transplantation.</li> <li> Explain the role of HLA and non-HLA genes in the pathogenesis of associated diseases and the clinical utility of HLA genotyping.</li> <li> Explain the role of HLA and non-HLA genes in associated pharmacogenomic reactions and the clinical utility of HLA genotyping.</li> <li> Evaluate the legislative requirements associated with transplantation.</li> </ol> Students will be able to:<ol><li>Critically analyse scientific and clinical data.</li><li>Present scientific and clinical data appropriately.</li><li>Formulate a critical argument.</li><li>Evaluate scientific and clinical literature.</li><li>Apply the knowledge of clinical immunology to address specific clinical problems.</li></ol> Students will be able to:<ol><li>Present information clearly in the form of verbal and written reports.</li><li>Communicate complex ideas and arguments in a clear and concise and effective manner.</li><li>Work effectively as an individual or part of a team.</li><li>Use conventional and electronic resources to collect, select and organise complex scientific information.</li></ol> Students will be able to:<ol><li>Present complex ideas in simple terms in both oral and written formats.</li><li>Consistently operate within sphere of personal competence and level of authority.</li><li>Manage personal workload and objectives to achieve quality of care.</li><li>Actively seek accurate and validated information from all available sources.</li><li>Select and apply appropriate analysis or assessment techniques and tools.</li><li>Evaluate a wide range of data to assist with judgements and decision-making.</li><li>Interpret data and convert into knowledge for use in the clinical context of individual and groups of patients.</li><li>Work in partnership with colleagues to solve problems.</li></ol> Seminars and workshops, supported by self-directed online learning materials including clinical case studies, audio lectures, discussion boards and recommended reading. 0 Other 100% Coursework 1 - 17%Coursework 2 - 33%Examination(s) - 50% Written feedback in accordance with T&L guidelines. MEDN63021 Introduction to the Blood Sciences Pre-Requisite Compulsory N A reading list with recommended supporting texts will be provided via the University library's 'Reading Lists Online'. 0 0 300