SCRB 177: Demystifying the Immune System

What happens during an infection? This course will follow the progression of an immune response while exploring the following questions: What is inflammation? How can it both protect us and contribute to disease? Which physiologic processes are regulated by immune cells? In addition to participation in lectures, discussions, and analysis of primary literature, each student will create an original piece of science communication to engage with the general public.

Students will learn to:

• Understand basic immunological principles

• Critically analyze primary literature

• Effectively communicate complex scientific concepts to the general public

Students: Undergraduate, Graduate

Semester: Fall

FYSEMR 53D: The Cure Within: Fighting Cancer with Your Immune System

Cancer touches countless lives. The search for a cure has driven the development of innovative therapeutic approaches focused on a once unconventional target: the immune system. In this seminar, we will dive into the exciting world of cancer research and discover how our own immune cells can be harnessed to fight this formidable disease. Through collaborative discussions, presentations, and the examination of popular science writing and research articles, students will explore the fundamental principles of cancer biology, the immune system, and tumor immunotherapy. We will consider questions such as: Why do tumors grow? How does the immune system “see” tumor cells? How can we manipulate immune cells to eradicate growing tumors? This course also features a field trip to a tumor immunology lab at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, providing a firsthand encounter with groundbreaking science. To conclude the semester, students will craft group presentations to illuminate a cutting-edge cancer immunotherapy tailored for a lay audience. Empowered with a solid foundation in the basics of cancer immunology and the ability to think critically about scientific information, students will leave this seminar equipped to join the ongoing conversation about cancer and its treatment.

Students: Undergraduate (First-Year seminar)

Semester: Fall (2024)