Human and Veterinary Vaccinology

Overview

What you will study

Vaccinology is a cross-disciplinary subject and the most exciting developments in vaccinology have occurred when people from diverse research, business and medical backgrounds have used their skills to collectively tackle problems in vaccine design, manufacture and distribution.

The Human and Veterinary Vaccinology course offered by University of Oxford will provide students with:

• An overview of the field of human and veterinary vaccinology, from Edward Jenner to modern day vaccines.

• An understanding of the immune system and immune mechanisms needed to provide protection from disease.

• An understanding of the recent advances that have been made in the vaccine field and appreciation of the impact of molecular immunology and pathogen genomics on vaccine development.

• An overview of the molecular methods used for the design and construction of vaccines.

• An appreciation of the importance of pre-clinical testing and the many factors involved in the selection of animal models.

• The ability to understand and interpret the bioassays used to measure vaccine immunogenicity and to understand how immunogenicity correlates with protection.

• An understanding of the role of veterinary vaccines in animal heath, animal welfare, environmental protection and public health.

• An understanding of the vaccine development pathway - from bench to market.

• An overview of the ethical issues surrounding vaccine development and deployment.