Course Overview

Currently, immunotherapy is an important therapeutic approach for the treatment of several diseases. In this context, this discipline is justified by addressing the current state and new perspectives of immunotherapies and advanced cellular therapies, making a connection between basic concepts and possible preclinical and clinical applications. Immunotherapy for cancer treatment is currently the most promising therapy in view of its selectivity, curative potential and low toxicity. This type of therapy has been described as the major scientific event of 2013 by the journal Science with emphasis on therapies with monoclonal antibodies (anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD1) and genetically modified chimeric antigen receptor T cells (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells, CAR T cells), which were able to induce potent antitumor response. In addition, this course enables interaction with professors and researchers from our and other research institutions, which develop works in this area of knowledge and present significant scientific and/or technological contribution in the field.

Learning Achievement

The objective of this course is to introduce concepts about immunotherapies and cell therapies, as well as to discuss their application in the treatment of several types of diseases (hematological neoplasms, solid tumors, inflammatory diseases and immuno-mediated diseases.) In this context, immunotherapies already well established in the clinical context as well as innovative and advanced therapies using, for example, multipotent stem cells and genetically modified T cells. In addition, biotechnological advances in the areas of immunotherapy and cell therapy will be addressed.

Competence

Course prerequisites

Grading Philosophy

1) Didactic-scientific performance in seminars 2) Participation in discussions during lectures and seminars 3) Frequency

Course schedule

The course will be taught through lectures, seminar presentation and discussion of articles. It will cover the following topics: 1. Immunotherapy, cell therapy, gene therapy: concepts and definitions. 2. Cellular immunotherapy (eg, NK cells, genetically modified T cells, dendritic cells, regulatory T cells, among others). 3. Immunotherapeutics (eg monoclonal antibodies, soluble receptors, receptor antagonists, purified total immunoglobulins, among others). 4. Immunotherapy: preclinical and clinical applications. 5. New biotechnologies in the area of immunotherapy (genetic modification, construction of chimeric antigen receptors, bioprocesses for cell expansion in bioreactors, humanized antibodies, among others).

Course type

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Maria Carolina de Oliveira Rodrigues,Kelen Cristina Ribeiro Malmegrim de Farias, Cristina Ribeiro de Barros Cardoso

Other information

There will also be the participation of invited researchers from this and other institutions every time the discipline is offered.

Site for Inquiry