Introducing Immunology4bpts
Online 2023!

Registration Opens 1st July 2023

September Course: 9-10th September 2023
Lectures accessible until the 17th

October Course: 21-22nd October 2023
Lectures accessible until the 29th

About the Course

The immunology4bpts course aims to provide essential knowledge about the basic science of the immune system, and how this translates into clinical medicine. Thus the requirements for both the Basic Sciences as well as Clinical Medicine will be covered.

Who will benefit from this course

This course is designed for

  • Doctors training in internal medicine (Basic Physician Trainees)
  • Established physicians looking to update their knowledge in Immunology
  • Paediatric trainees: many aspects of the course are very relevant for paediatric training, and there is a dedicated lecture on Paediatric Immunodeficiency
  • Anyone with a medical background where an understanding of immunology might help with their chosen career path

Course Includes

  • 'Introduction to the Immune system' pre-course lecture, available two weeks before the course
  • A series of short lectures, ~30 minutes each
  • A series of revision questions after each lecture to consolidate learning
  • Multiple graphics accompanying the lecture materials to reinforce critical immunological concepts
  • 'Immunology in a Page' diagrammatic summary of the entire immune system
  • Printed manual including all the lecture materials, graphics, revision questions and MCQs
  • Paediatric Immunodeficiency lecture
  • Online Q&A throughout the course
  • A supplementary revision quiz in the month before the Part I exam

Access to the Lectures

The course will be delivered online. All lectures will be pre-recorded and accessible on demand from 6 am EST (Sydney) Saturday all week until the following Sunday evening! Questions for the lecturers can be posted at any time.

Registration

Registration will close when the course is full, or two weeks prior to the start date of the course (to allow for printing and postage).

All course manuals will be shipped about 4 weeks prior to the course.

Please note refunds will not be possible within 4 weeks of the course, and will exclude the booking fee.

September and October 2023 Courses

Cost: $395 + GST

Includes access to all lectures, online Q&A, and a physical manual (delivered before your start date).

Register Now
Course Content

Topics Covered

Innate Immunity and Complement

Lectures 1-6

Antibodies and B Cells

Lectures 7-10

T Cells, MHC and Transplantation

Lectures 11-14, 16-18

Autoimmunity and Vasculitis

Lectures 19-20

Allergic Disease

Lecture 15

Therapeutics

Lecture 20
Course Content

Lecture Details

The course is designed to cover a wide scope of basic and applied immunology. Here's what we'll be covering!

Lecture 0

Introduction to Immunology

Basic Science

  • Commensals vs pathogens, innate vs specific immunity, anatomical and chemical barriers.
  • Immune cells: macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils, mast cells & basophils, innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), dendritic cells.
  • Innate immunity: pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Complement. Inflammation & vasoactive mediators, cytokines, chemokines.
  • Adaptive immunity: clonal selection (Burnet), Generation of diversity, signals for lymphocyte activation, B cells, antigen binding by antibody. T cells. immunological memory Lymphoid tissues: thymus, lymphatics, lymph nodes, spleen, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT).
  • Effector mechanisms in immune responses: cytotoxicity, type1, type 2, type 3 immunity. Role of MHC molecules. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), T-helper (Th) cells), B-cell activation & plasma cells.
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 1

Innate Immunity and Complement

Basic Science

  • Innate immunity principles: physical / epithelial barriers, molecules recognised by innate immune system, pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs).
  • Complement: functions, principles, nomenclature. Alternate, classical pathway & lectin pathways. Membrane attack complex, complement receptors, anaphylatoxins
  • Mannose-binding lectin, ficolins.

Clinical Applications

  • MBL deficiency
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 2

Complement Disorders

Basic Science

  • Complement control proteins, self-non-self discrimination.

Clinical Applications

  • Hereditary angioedema.
  • Complement deficiency syndromes.
  • Complement assays.
  • Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH).
  • Atypical HUS.
  • Complement and therapy: eculizumab, pegcetacoplan, avacopan.
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 3

Innate Receptors and Disease

Basic Science

  • Toll-like receptors.
  • C-type Lectins.
  • NOD-like receptors & Inflammasomes.

Clinical Applications

  • Gram negative septic shock.
  • Gout.
  • Autoinflammatory diseases.
  • Familial Mediterranean Fever.
  • Autoinflammatory disease and NLRP3.
  • NOD2 and Crohn's disease.
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 4

Innate Cytokines and Disease

Basic Science

  • Acute phase response, TNF, IL-1, IL-6.
  • RNA & DNA sensors.
  • Interferons-type I, Innate & Adaptive Interaction.

Clinical Applications

  • Therapeutic inhibitors of IL-1, IL-6, TNF.
  • Type I interferonopathies.
  • STING-associated vasculopathy.
  • IFN type I and SARS-CoV-2.
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 5

Innate Cells and Disease

Basic Science

  • Phagocytes: monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils.
  • Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs).
  • Eosinophils.
  • Dendritic cells: classical (cDCs) vs plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs).

Clinical Applications

  • Assessment of Neutrophils.
  • Chronic granulomatous disease.
  • Furunculosis.
  • DC-based vaccines.
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 6

Innate Lymphoid Cells and Cell migration

Basic Science

  • Innate-lymphoid cells (ILCs), NK cells.
  • Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).
  • Chemokines, adhesion cascade.

Clinical Applications

  • ILC2 and atopic disease, anti-TSLP.
  • Chemokines and disease: HIV entry.
  • Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency.
  • Integrin blockers in IBD, MS.
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 7

Immunoglobulins

Basic Science

  • Antibody basic structure, immunoglobulin regions, isotypes/classes/subclasses: IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, IgE.
  • Immunoglobulin superfamily.
  • Ig response to pathogen.
  • Antibody function including opsonisation, ADCC, Fc Receptors.

Clinical Applications

  • IgG4 Related Disease.
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 8

Antibody Deficiency, Monoclonals

Basic Science

  • Polyclonal vs monoclonal Abs (mAbs), CD nomenclature.
  • Therapeutic antibodies (“biologics”), mAb modifications & nomenclature.

Clinical Applications

  • Manifestations of Primary Antibody Deficiency.
  • Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID).
  • Secondary Ab deficiency.
  • IgA deficiency.
  • IgG subclass deficiency.
  • Specific Antibody Deficiency (SAD, SpAD, FAD).
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 9

How B Cells are Made

Basic Science

  • B cell overview.
  • Clonal selection (Burnet).
  • Generation of Diversity (VDJ rearrangement), immunoglobulin genes.
  • B-cell development (pre-Ag).
  • B-cell tolerance. Transitional B cells & BAFF.

Clinical Applications

  • VDJ rearrangement and diagnosis of lymphoma.
  • Agammaglobulinaemia with absent B cells, e.g. X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA).
  • Btk inhibitors.
  • BAFF inhibitors.
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 10

How B Cells are Activated

Basic Science

  • B-cell differentiation after Ag, isotype switching, affinity maturation/somatic hypermutation in germinal centres.
  • 1˚ vs 2˚ humoral responses.
  • Plasma cells, memory B cells.
  • T-dependent versus T-independent Ags.
  • B cell surface antigens.

Clinical Applications

  • Hyper IgM syndrome.
  • Rituximab (anti-CD20).
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 11

How T Cells are Made

Basic Science

  • T-cell overview.
  • T-cell receptor, CD3 signalling chains, TCR:MHC interaction.
  • CD4 vs CD8 T cells.
  • T-cell development in the thymus.
  • TCR gene rearrangement.
  • Thymic expression of peripheral antigens (AIRE).
  • CD4-8 selection.

Clinical Applications

  • T-cell Receptor Excision Circles (TRECs).
  • SCID.
  • Combined Immunodeficiency (CID).
  • Idiopathic CD4 lymphopenia (ICL).
  • Teplizumab (anti-CD3 mAb).
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 12

How T Cells are Activated

Basic Science

  • T-cell recirculation.
  • T-cell activation & co-stimulation, including CTLA4.
  • Super-antigens, IL-2.
  • T cell surface antigens.

Clinical Applications

  • Manipulating the co-stimulatory pathway: blockers: CTLA4-Ig (Abatacept).
  • Checkpoint inhibitors: anti-CTLA4, anti-PD-1/PD-L1, and immune-related adverse events.
  • Laboratory assessment of T-cells and interpretation.
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 13

T Cell Tolerance

Basic Science

  • T-cell tolerance: central vs peripheral, inhibitory molecules. clonal ignorance, Fas.
  • Treg cells.

Clinical Applications

  • Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome.
  • CTLA4 deficiency.
  • tTreg, autoimmune disease & therapeutics.
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 14

T Cells as Effectors

Basic Science

  • Effector T cell subsets: Th1/Th2/Th17 cells, follicular helper T cells (Tfh).
  • Allergic (Th2) pathophysiology, Th2 cytokines & receptors.
  • Mast cells, basophils.
  • Early vs late-phase allergic response, chronic allergic inflammation.
  • Cytotoxic T cells, innate-like T cells.
  • T cell surface molecules.

Clinical Applications

  • Mendelian Susceptibility to Mycobacterial Disease (Th1 deficiency).
  • Role of Th17 cells in psoriasis.
  • Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis (CMC)(Th17 deficiency).
  • IL-17 blockers.
  • Interpreting IgE levels.
  • Th2 pathway blockers.
  • CAR T cells & therapy.
  • Bispecific antibodies.
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 15

Allergic Disease & Drug Allergy

Clinical Applications

  • Allergic rhinitis.
  • Food allergy.
  • Anaphylaxis.
  • Insect sting allergy.
  • Mastocytosis.
  • Antibiotics (penicillin, cephalosporins, sulphonamides), anaesthetic agents, radiocontrast media, ACE inhibitors, aspirin and NSAIDs.
  • Principles of drug “desensitisation”.
  • Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS)/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).
  • Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria (CIU).
Ming-Wei Lin profile picture

A/Prof Ming-Wei Lin

MBBS, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 16

Major Histocompatibility Complex and Antigen Presentation

Basic Science

  • MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex)/HLA structure (class I vs II), variation, function.
  • Ag processing pathways (class I vs II), cross-presentation.
  • Non-classical HLA molecules.
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 17

MHC in Practice

Basic Science

  • MHC restriction.
  • Genomic structure of MHC, inheritance of HLA alleles.
  • HLA nomenclature.

Clinical Applications

  • HLA & Disease: coeliac disease, drug hypersensitivity (abacavir, carbamazepine, allopurinol), transfusion.
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 18

HLA and Transplantation

Clinical Applications

  • Types of transplants (solid organ, haematopoietic cell).
  • Transplant rejection: pathways (direct vs indirect), hyperacute/acute/chronic.
  • Transplant outcomes: kidney, haematopoietic.
  • Donor selection: HLA matching (renal vs non-renal), anti-HLA antibodies, HLA crossmatch, role of ABO.
  • Methods for HLA typing.
  • Preventing graft rejection.
  • Complications of immunosuppression.
  • Haematopoietic cell transplantation: indications, HLA matching, rejection, graft versus host disease (GVHD).
  • Minor histocompatibility antigens.
  • Killer inhibitory receptors (KIRs) (NK cells).
Heather Dunckley profile picture

Heather Dunckley

BSc Hons, PhD, A(ACHI)

Lecture 19

Autoimmunity

Basic Science

  • Immune tolerance mechanisms
  • Pathogenic mechanisms in autoimmunity: antibody-mediated (pathogenic vs marker Abs), immune complexes, T-cells.
  • Mechanisms of tolerance failure: influence of sex, genes & environment (especially infection), bystander activation, molecular mimicry.

Clinical Applications

  • Risk genes in autoimmune disease.
  • Pathogenesis of narcolepsy, coeliac disease, lupus.
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 20

Vasculitis

Clinical Applications

  • General: epidemiology, classification, histopathology, diagnosis, prognosis, mimics of vasculitis, imaging, treatment.
  • ANCA & pathogenesis of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV).
  • Practical guide on approach to patient with potential vasculitis
  • Takayasu's arteritis.
  • Giant cell arteritis (GCA).
  • Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN).
  • Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA).
  • Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
  • Anti-GBM disease.
  • IgA vasculitis.
  • Cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis.
  • Kawasaki's disease.
  • MIS-C.
Ming Wei profile picture

A/Prof Ming-Wei Lin

MBBS, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 21

Therapeutics and the Immune System

Clinical Applications

  • Traditional immunosuppressors: glucocorticoids, azathioprine, calcineurin inhibitors, mycophenolate, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide.
  • Intravenous Immunoglobulin as immunomodulator.
  • Rituximab (anti-CD20).
  • Jak inhibitors.
  • Fingolimod.
  • Biologics and immune disease.
  • Clinical approach to immunosuppression.
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 22

Overview of Immunobiology

Basic Science

  • One page revision summary of the entirety of the immune system!
David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Lecture 23

Paediatric Immunodeficiency Disorders

Clinical Applications

  • Classification of immunodeficiency.
  • Age-related changes in Ig, complement.
  • Infections and PID.
  • Assessment of suspected PID.
  • SCID, Omenn syndrome, ADA/PNP deficiency, DiGeorge syndrome, SCID screening.
  • XLA, CVID, IgAD.
  • CGD, LAD.
  • Complement deficiency and evaluation.
  • Wiscott-Aldrich Syndrome.
  • Hyper IgE (Job's) syndrome.
  • DOCK 8 deficiency.
  • Ataxia telangiectasia.
Stephanie Richards profile picture

Stephanie Richards

BSc Hons, MBBS, FRACP, FRCPA

Theresa Cole profile picture

Theresa Cole

MBBS, FRACP

Extra

MCQ Trial Immunology Examination

Time to go through 50 MCQs to see how much you've learnt!

David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Extra

MCQ Work-through

Answers and explanation of the 50 MCQs in trial examination.

David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Course Content

Example Slides

Slides are packed with detailed illustrations to reinforce critical immunological concepts

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Speaker Profiles

Meet Our Speakers

All our speakers have extensive experience and passion for Immunology, and are keen to share their knowledge

David Fulcher profile picture

Prof David A. Fulcher

MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA

Hon. Professor of Immunology, Australian National University, Immunopathologist at 4Cyte Pathology and Clinical Immunologist. Prof Fulcher has a national reputation for teaching immunology at all levels, including undergraduate, basic physician trainee and post-graduate stages. He has held every major national teaching position in Immunology and Immunopathology, including Co-ordinator of Advanced Training in Immunology, Chair of the Joint Specialist Advisory Committee in Immunology (RACP), and Chief Examiner in Immunopathology (RCPA). He was Director of Physician Training and then Network Director of Physician Training. He has convened Immunology4bpts since 2006, which now attracts 400-500 trainees annually.

Ming Wei Lin profile picture

A/Prof Ming-Wei Lin

MBBS, FRACP, FRCPA

A/Prof Ming-Wei Lin is a senior staff specialist in the Department of Clinical Immunology and Head of Immunopathology at ICPMR, Westmead Hospital. She co-directs the multidisciplinary Immunobullous clinic and has special interests in autoimmune disease and immunodeficiency.

Heather Dunckley profile picture

Dr Heather Dunckley

BSc Hons, PhD, A(ACHI)

Dr Dunckley is the ASHI Director and Clinical Scientist of the New Zealand Transplantation and Immunogenetics Laboratory, New Zealand Blood Service. She has extensive practical laboratory experience in the field of histocompatibility testing for solid organ and haematopoietic cell transplantation. She has served on the Board of the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI) and is a Past-President of the Asia Pacific Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Association (APHIA). She regularly teaches on the theory and application of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) typing for transplantation and for HLA linked immunological diseases.

Stephanie Richards profile picture

Dr Stephanie Richards

BSc Hons, MBBS, FRACP, FRCPA

Dr Stephanie Richards is a paediatric allergist/immunologist and immunopathologist, currently employed at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. Her clinical and research interests include primary immunodeficiency, immune dysregulation and food allergies in children.

Theresa Cole profile picture

Dr Theresa Cole

MBBS, FRACP

Dr Cole is a Paediatric Immunologist, specialising in stem cell transplant for primary immunodeficiency at Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. She is current chair of the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) primary immunodeficiency committee, chair of the ASCIA immunoglobulin replacement therapy working party and facilitator of the Transplantation in Primary Immunodeficiency (TAPID) group. Her primary research interests are in better understanding mechanisms underlying immune deficiency and improving stem cell transplant outcomes for primary immunodeficiency.

What Others Say

Hear From Past Attendees

Very good introduction to immunology for those of us who have very little knowledge of it. Takes you right the way through the basics to the clinical applications.

Anonymous Post-Attendance Feedback Form

This course is simply excellent. Most of the concepts were new to me, but they were presented in a way that was so easy to digest. I also found the course very enjoyable! I would 100% recommend this course.

Anonymous Post-Attendance Feedback Form

I thought the lectures were fantastic - really great breakdown of the important components of basic immunology, that we're really nicely intertwined with clinical immunology. I definitely feel more confident with my immunology knowledge than prior to sitting the course.

Anonymous Post-Attendance Feedback Form

This is an absolutely brilliant 2-day course on Immunology. So thorough, so much detail, and so well explained from the foundations upwards. I really enjoyed the reflection time and MCQs at the end of each section, giving us the chance to assess what we have learnt and how we can apply our understanding. The exam-style MCQs are perfect for this. The visual aids, schematics, graphs and diagrams are awesome. I also like the addition of videos to explain the biology in a slightly different way. Finally, Dr Fulcher's passion for the subject is palpable and infectious.

Anonymous Post-Attendance Feedback Form

I felt like I was learning rather than simply being fed a list of facts.

Anonymous Post-Attendance Feedback Form

Excellent thorough summary of a lot of key immunology concepts. Really enjoyed the online lecture format - very well done.

Anonymous Post-Attendance Feedback Form