Immune modulation in human and animal infections: impact on health, disease and therapy
8th – 12th of July 2019 – Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) hosts the Eurolife Summer School 2019 titled Immune modulation in human and animal infections: impact on health, disease and therapy.
The event was organised in cooperation with the University of Edinburgh and Eurolife awarded 8 grants to students and researchers from Eurolife partner universities.
The Eurolife Summer School, LUMC welcomed 29 participants of 16 nationalities – (bio)medical Master students, PhD students, as well as early stage post-doctoral scientists interested and medical doctors in one or more of the following fields: immunology, microbiology and metabolism. The participants joined the School to increase their knowledge on human and animal infectious diseases, immunotherapy for inflammatory diseases, microbiota interventions and host-directed therapies against infectious diseases, clinical trials as well the industrial production of vaccines and antimicrobial therapies.
The participants were divided in tutor-guided groups and each group developed a research proposal on a topic of their choice based on new information gathered during the summer school. In addition, there was a social debate on public engagement and science in the media, a pubquiz and a boat tour through Leiden. The participants also had the opportunity to get to know each other’s research through a well visited poster session.
In result of their participation, the students and researchers gained an understanding of vaccine design and immunotherapy, preclinical testing, and clinical evaluation.
Hear from the Eurolife Grantees and learn what they have to say about the event
More about the event
Organizing Committee:
Leiden University Medical Center -Center of Infectious Diseases
- Dr. Hermelijn Smits
- Dr. Marjolein Kikkert
- Prof dr. Ed Kuijper
- Prof dr. Ron Hokke
- Prof dr. Leo Visser
- Prof dr. Tom Ottenhoff
University of Edinburgh
- Dr. David Dockrell
- Prof. dr. Ross Fitzgerald
- Prof. dr Mark Stevens
Summary of the themes covered by the Eurolife Summer School
- Introduction to current standards in (emerging) infectious disease control
- The molecular mechanisms of immune modulation by infectious agents
- Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi and new approaches for treatment of drug resistant microorganisms
- The role of microbiome in health and disease, both animal and human
- Controlled human and (large) animal infection models (combined with entrepreneurship)
- Infectious disease vaccine design and preclinical validation
- Novel host-directed and personalised therapies for infectious and immune diseases
- Develop a research proposal in small tutor-guided sessions on a topic related the themes of the Summer School
Learning objectives
- To develop an overall understanding of immune modulation by pathogens and commensals and the balance between immune exploitation and immune training, including the role of the microbiota (benefit).
- To give participants the knowledge and skills to design and test a vaccine/immunotherapy for a given infection or disease, including understanding of the immune responses involved, role of adjuvant, target antigen(s) and immune cells.
- To understand the role and application of controlled human infections in vaccine and/or immunotherapy development.
- To impart knowledge and understanding of manufacture across a spectrum of different vaccines, including the requirements of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice).
- Translate the acquired knowledge into novel research proposals on themes related to One Health.