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Module Name
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Topic
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Learning Outcome
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ECTS
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3.1 Infectious Diseases and Diagnostics
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Medical microbiology, medical virology, infection of organs (gastrointestinal tract, respiratory and nervous system). Monitoring infectious diseases following antiviral or anti-bacterial therapy. Bacterial protein toxins.
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Empowerment to diagnose and treat infectious diseases. Practical knowledge of the diagnostic methods. Skills including teamwork, preparation of written reports, presentation and discussion of scientific reports
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7
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3.2 Translational Medicine and Innovative Therapies
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Major classes of therapeutics. Monoclonal antibodies and innovative antibody formats, vaccines, combination and cell therapies. Preclinical testing and regulatory framework for clinical trial application in the EU. Phase I clinical trials and translational medicine. Bioinformatics, artificial intelligence
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Knowledge on relevant steps towards clinical development (phase I trials) of innovative therapies. Discussing the specific characteristics of vaccine development, understanding novel approaches in drug development including the importance of animal phenotyping. Overview of bioinformatics tools in drug development and Omics analyses. Ability to access and analyse big data resources. Usage of AI to perform scientific hypotheses building.
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5
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3.3 Genomes and Gene Editing
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Gene transfer. Gene expression. Gene Therapy. Genome editing.
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Enable students to use state-of-the-art technologies to develop gene and cell therapy applications. Decide for an adequate method to transfer genetic material into a target cell. Understand the different approaches for targeted genome editing. Understand the gene therapy strategies that have been tested (pre-) clinically.
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5
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3.4 Emerging Viral Infections: Discovery and Intervention Strategies
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Virus discovery: NGS, sequence analysis, phylogeny. Molecular toolbox: Reverse genetics. Host restriction/adaptation: receptor usage and replication. Viral pathogenesis. Development of prophylactic and therapeutic intervention strategies. Metagenomics on environmental DNA
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Knowledge about the process of virus discovery: genetic analysis and phylogeny, host restriction factors, adaptation to hosts, intervention strategies. Use this as a basis to determine zoonotic and pandemic potential of a virus. Development of concepts to enhance pandemic preparedness also via eDNA analysis
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5
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3.5 Biorisk Management and Bioethics
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Comprehensive biorisk management approach. WHO concept on the relationship between risk groups of organisms and containment requirements. Dual-use research: risk and gain. Ethics in infection research. Simulation of a disease outbreak and operating a mobile laboratory
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Knowledge on the 16 components of a comprehensive biorisk management program. Understanding how these multiple components can be integrated into a Plan-Do-Check-Act-cycle driven management system. Awareness of dual-use aspects and ethical implications of research. Implementing the above in a disease outbreak situation.
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5
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3.6 Scientific Reading, Writing and Presentation
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Searching the scientific literature. Scientific writing style. Writing graduate level papers, proposals, projects, and thesis components. Preparing scientific presentations; presentation of data.
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Search and understand scientific papers, use scientific terminology and formatting, communication of results, prepare professional material for presentation and publication.
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3
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Winter School Part 2
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EU Policy Part II: World Health Summit (3 days) Keynote sessions, Panel discussion, Workshops on most pressing global health topics
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