The 5-day Summer School will focus on immunotherapy, vaccinology, microbiota interventions and drug development for infectious and hyperinflammatory diseases. The overall aim of the course is to give participants an understanding of vaccine design and immunotherapy, preclinical testing, and clinical evaluation. Skills and knowledge will be imparted through a combination of lectures, discussion, workshops and site visits. Main themes of the 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 Lectures will cover developments in human and animal infectious diseases and the culprit of inflammatory disorders; but at the same time immune training by commensals and the microbiome will be covered versus the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance; the course will address strategies for cross fertilization of tolerance induction in inflammatory disease versus novel effective protection against pathogens. Importantly, speakers will include academics and representatives from industry, in order to give not only an overview of the latest developments in the field but also to help prepare participants for a variety of careers, for example as scientists in academic research, industrial scientists or clinical trial development. The objectives of the course 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. Programme timetable Full details of all the tutors, lectures and study sessions can be downloaded from the link below. Document Leiden Summer School Timetable 2019 (63.43 KB / PDF) Publication date 14 Feb, 2019
