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. 

In addition to lectures you will attend seminars: covering data interpretation in inflammation research. You will also complete a short project in groups of approximately 5-6 students. Each group will choose from two available project titles. The group will research the project by collating and critically evaluating the current art/literature/research and identify future research strategies were appropriate. This work will then be presented to the rest of the class in the form of a poster and an oral presentation. Pharmacology staff will assist with the project development in project tutorials. 

Indicative lecture list: 

Microcirculation and endothelial cells in Inflammation. 

Neutrophils 

Monocytes & macrophages 

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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 

Hot topics in Inflammation 