Complete Your Immunology Certificate with Course 4

Explore immunotherapy through an in-depth examination of pathogen evasion and vaccine development

In this fully-online and self-paced course, you'll explore how pathogens evade the immune system and discover how we combat these threats with vaccines and immune treatments for cancer. Through engaging content and real-life examples, you'll delve into the effects of mutations that compromise the immune system. This course offers fascinating lessons to deepen your understanding and enhance your skills in immunology.

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DESCRIPTION

Fundamentals of Immunology: Dueling with Pathogens and Cancer (Course 4)

In this entirely online and self-paced course, Fundamentals of Immunology: Dueling with the Dark Side, you'll explore the ongoing battle between your immune system and health threats.

The first two lectures dive into viral and cellular pathogens, revealing their tactics to evade immune attacks. You'll then shift to a more optimistic view, learning about cutting-edge immune-based therapies, including engineered antibodies for disease treatment, and developing vaccines such as viral-engineered, killed, and RNA-component vaccines.

Who should attend:

Premed and medical students seeking foundational knowledge in immunology
Individuals with an immune disease or cancer seek deeper insights into their condition
Anyone curious about the immune system and the function of vaccines

You will be able to:

Analyze the strategies pathogens and cancers have evolved to thwart immune defenses
Evaluate our therapeutic countermeasures, including vaccines and CAR T cells, and understand their importance to public health
Investigate how mutations in the protein genes of the signaling systems compromise the immune response

LECTURE SAMPLES

MEET YOUR RICE PROFESSOR

Alma Moon Novotny, Ph.D.

Dr. Alma Novotny earned her PhD from Purdue University in Developmental Biology under the direction of Michael Forman. She has taught college courses in plant and animal sciences, genetics, and introductory cell and developmental biology for over forty years. She has also written test question banks and contributed questions to both the MCAT and the GRE Advanced Exam in Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology. Since joining Rice University in 2000, she has taught immunology and is a three-time recipient of the George R. Brown Award for Superior Teaching.

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