IM4008: Honours Immunology: Immune Response and Disease

IM4008: HONOURS IMMUNOLOGY: IMMUNE RESPONSE AND DISEASE (2026-2027)

Last modified: 22 Jul 2026 13:42

Course Overview

students will extend from their "textbook" knowledge in basic Immunology to frontline research into areas such as the specific mechanisms that successfully eliminate different types of infectious agent, and the cells and molecules that prevent autoimmune diseases;
students will understand how pathogens are able to evade our immune system and the current strategies and challenges in immunotherapeutic and vaccine development for these pathogens;
research tutorials help students to acquire further knowledge in a specialist subject in Immunology and develop their reading, writing, numeracy, communication and critical analysis skills that are attractive to employers in academia and industry.

Course Details

Study Type	Undergraduate	Level	4
Term	First Term	Credit Points	15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus	Aberdeen	Sustained Study	No
Co-ordinators	Dr Indrani Mukhopadhya Professor Heather M. Wilson

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

Any Undergraduate Programme
One of Intercalating or Microbiology (MC) or IM3501 Fundamentals of Immunology (Passed)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

IM4007 Honours Immunology - Option 1 (Passed)

Are there a limited number of places available?

Course Description

The aim of this course is to provide an in-depth understanding of selected aspects of immunology as related to infection and disease. Main areas of study will include: an overview of the complex cellular and molecular mechanisms of tolerance to non-infectious or self-antigens including the role of T regulatory cells and AIRE and the importance of tolerance for pregnancy; how tolerance can be broken to induce autoimmunity, asthma or other atopic diseases; an appreciation of how the immune system can be evaded to cause disease by e.g. by pathogens and in cancer;

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers

Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 21st September 2026 for Term 1 and Full Year courses and 8th January 2027 for Term 2 courses.

Summative Assessments

Exam

Assessment Type	Summative	Weighting	70
Assessment Weeks		Feedback Weeks		Look up Week Numbers
Feedback

Learning Outcomes

Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on or with the Course Coordinator
Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome

Essay

Assessment Type	Summative	Weighting	30
Assessment Weeks		Feedback Weeks		Look up Week Numbers
Feedback	In-course assessments will provide written comments and feedback. Opportunity for whole-class feedback will be provided during exam information and problem-solving sessions.	Word Count

Learning Outcomes

Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on or with the Course Coordinator
Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome
Factual	Remember	ILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.

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