This module is aimed at students wishing to study the process of inflammation, its role in disease and how to control this pathophysiological response. Due to the widespread role of inflammation in human physiology and pathology the module would be of interest to students of Pharmacology, Biomedicine, Neurosciences, Biochemistry, Immunology, Physiology, Medicine and subjects applied to medicine. As inflammation represents a significant area for the development of new therapies students interested in drug discovery & design and chemistry may also find the module of interest. 

Knowledge of Cell Biology, Pharmacology, Immunology and Pathology will be beneficial but not essential as background material is available if required. 

As our knowledge of human disease increases it is becoming evident that inflammation plays a significant role in many pathologies. These not only include the classical inflammatory diseases, but also atherosclerosis, ischemic-reperfusion injury, sepsis/multiply organ failure and COPD. Inflammation is also an important component of metabolic diseases such as diabetes. The field of inflammation and cancer is also rapidly developing with new anti-cancer drugs targeting the immune response. Inflammation has now been implicated in a wide variety of neurological conditions and diseases and it is hoped that it can be targeted to treat these diseases in the future. Finally, the impact of age on the immune system and inflammation is being beginning to be appreciated and how this contributes to ageing. This module provides in-depth coverage of the core mechanism by which inflammation is initiated and maintained and discusses the state of the current and future research trends in its treatment 

Indicative lecture list (based on 2018/19 syllabus) 

Microcirculation and endothelial cells in Inflammation. 

Neutrophils 

Monocytes & macrophages 

Cell signalling in Inflammation. 

ROS and energy metabolism. 

Complement & Kinins 

Lipid Mediators. 

Pain. 

Cytokine biology 

Inflammatory cell migration. 

Glucocorticoids. 

Sepsis & Multiple organ failure. 

Rheumatoid arthritis & other joint diseases 

Multiple scleroses & neurodegenerative diseases 

Asthma & COPD. 

Neurogenic Inflammation 

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