Units of Study

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Semester 1 Core Units

• Fundamental Immunology INIM5001
• Virology and Cell Technology INIM5002

Semester 1 Electives

• Bioinformatics INIM5006
• Advanced Sexually Transmitted Infections SEXH5200
• Clinical Mycology and Parasitology INIM5013

Semester 2 Core Units

• Advanced Medical Bacteriology INIM5011
• Infection control and Epidemiology INIM5012

Semester 2 Electives

• Applied Clinical Immunology INIM5016
• HIV and other retroviruses INIM5015
• Communicable Disease Control PUBH5117

Semester 1 Core Units

Fundamental Immunology INIM5001

Unit Coordinator: Dr Scott Byrne

This core unit will provide an understanding of

• Components and functions of the human immune system at the molecular and cellular levels
• Mechanisms of pathological immune processes
• Mechanisms of immunity to micro-organisms
• Immunological techniques used in clinical diagnostic and research laboratories

Material will be delivered so as to develop skills in

• Problem solving
• Evaluation of scientific literature
• Oral and written communication

Virology and Cell Technology INIM5002

Unit Coordinator: Dr Belinda Herring

This unit aims to equip graduates with an in-depth knowledge of medical virology and cell technology that will enable them to work effectively as laboratory personnel in relevant hospital laboratories, clinics or research institutions. The objectives of this unit of study are:

• To impart a thorough understanding of the scientific foundations and clinical applications of medical virology and cell technology.
• To provide an appreciation of prevention strategies applicable to the control of viral infections.
• To provide knowledge of, and training in, laboratory techniques used to diagnose infections caused by viruses.
• To develop effective skills in problem-solving and self-directed learning.
• To foster advanced verbal and written communication skills.

Semester 1 Electives

Bioinformatics INIM5006

Unit Coordinator: Dr Jonathan Arthur

By choosing to complete the Bioinformatics elective you will gain a thorough understanding of bioinformatics as it relates to the study of infectious diseases and the functioning of the immune system. In particular, the course will enable you to:

• understand, interpret, and effectively use specific online bioinformatics databases and resources related to research in infection and immunity
• analyse basic microarray experiments to identify differentially expressed genes
• align and analyse sequence information and undertake phylogenetic analyses in order to infer evolutionary relationships
• identify and characterise proteins using proteomic data
• construct basic 3D homology models for the visualisation of protein structure

Advanced Sexually Transmitted Infections SEXH5200

Unit Coordinator: Dr Richard Hillman

• This Unit of Study is designed for graduates who wish to deepen their knowledge & skills in Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and related conditions. It is ideally suited for those working in clinical environments, hospital laboratories, policy development.
• The course focuses on the knowledge and skills required to fully understand the epidemiology, biology, pathogenesis and clinical contexts of infection with the common STIs. In addition it will facilitate the development of skills in the critical evaluation of associated scientific literature, problem-solving and scientific communications.
• Educational material will be delivered by lectures, laboratory classes, tutorials, seminars and online. Contributors will be from a wide variety of backgrounds including clinicians, allied health professionals and laboratory personnel.
• At the end of the Unit, students should have a sound understanding of the science, practice and art of STI medicine.

Clinical Mycology and Parasitology INIM5013

Unit Coordinator: Associate Professor Wieland Meyer

This Unit aims to equip graduates with an in-depth knowledge of medical mycology and parasitology that will enable them to work effectively as laboratory personnel in relevant hospital laboratories, clinics or research institutions. The objectives of this unit are:

• To develop a thorough understanding of the scientific basis and clinical applications of medical mycology and parasitology.
• To provide basic knowledge of the main human pathogenic fungi and parasites and their epidemiology.
• To provide knowledge of and training in laboratory techniques used to diagnose infections caused by fungi and parasites.
• To understand clinical pictures of disease in connection with the laboratory findings to generate appropriate treatment responses.
• To develop skills in evaluation of scientific literature, in problem-solving and in scientific communication that will enable graduates to develop careers as, laboratory personal, administrators or policy-makers in hospitals, health care organizations or government bodies.

Educational material will be delivered by lectures, laboratory classes tutorials, case studies and seminars. Lecturers and tutors will be from leading fields in medical mycology and parasitology with a variety of backgrounds: including clinicians, scientists, laboratory personal within Australia.

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Semester 2 Core Units

Advanced Medical Bacteriology INIM5011

Unit Coordinator: Dr Jim Manos

The objectives of this unit of study are:

• To provide an awareness of modern concepts of Medical Bacteriology relevant to the susceptibility and response of the host to pathogenic bacteria, with special emphasis on the host-pathogen relationship at the cellular and molecular levels regarding symptoms, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, control and prevention.
• To develop communication skills and critical assessment of the scientific literature.
• To familiarise candidates with modern bacteriological test procedures used to diagnose bacterial infections and monitor effectiveness of treatments.
• To provide an advanced scientific and intellectual basis to augment knowledge and understanding, at a postgraduate level, in a career involving Medical Microbiology or in a related subject area.
• To enhance professional/public understanding of integrated Medical Sciences including Medical Bacteriology and their impact on society.

Infection control and Epidemiology INIM5012

Unit Coordinator: Professor Peter Mcminn

This unit aims to equip graduates to take advantage of the hospital laboratory services and the research literature in applying old and new technologies to recognise individual cases of communicable disease, trace the source of outbreaks and provide a scientific basis for development of policies to prevent spread of infection. The objectives of this unit of study are:

• To know how to estimate the risk of transmission of infection and to assess the value of control measures.
• To understand the methods used to determine the efficacy of antimicrobial drugs both for treating individual patients and in terms of policy guidelines.
• To understand the scientific basis of vaccination and its value and limitations in the field.
• To appreciate the psychological and social factors involved in achieving effective infection and control.

Semester 2 Electives

Applied Clinical Immunology INIM5016

Unit Coordinator: Ms Louise Wienholt

The unit will provide students with an in-depth knowledge of applied Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology to equip graduates to work effectively as laboratory personnel in hospital laboratories, clinics or research institutions. The objectives of this unit of study are:

To develop skills in evaluation of scientific literature, in problem-solving and in scientific communication that will enable graduates to develop careers as administrators or policy-makers in hospitals, health care organisations or government bodies.

• To understand the immunological basis for infection and immunity and how these concepts are core to and applied in the diagnostic pathology laboratory.
• To understand how the immune system causes and prevents disease, the use and performance of immunological tests in the investigation of disease and methods of investigation of the immune system.
• To develop effective skills in problems-solving and self-directed learning.
• To foster advanced verbal and written communication skills.

HIV and other retroviruses INIM5015

Unit Coordinator: Dr Roger Garsia

This unit aims to:

• To provide graduates with knowledge of the epidemiology, biology, pathogenesis and clinical contexts of infection with the common pathogenic retroviruses, focussing on HIV.
• To target graduates who wish to work l in relevant hospital laboratories, clinics, research institutions, and those who wish to work as administrators or policy-makers in hospitals, health care organisations or government bodies.
• To support the development of skills in the critical evaluation of associated scientific literature, problem-solving and scientific communications.

At the end of the elective, students should be able to:

• Understand the scientific foundations and clinical applications of HIV virology and the immune response to it.
• Appreciate prevention strategies applicable to the control of HIV in populations, individuals and in healthcare settings.
• Describe and perform certain laboratory techniques used to diagnose HIV infections, and to assess their impacts on the host.
• Demonstrate effective skills in relevant problem-solving and self-directed leaning.

Communicable Disease Control PUBH5117

Unit Coordinator: Dr John Hall

This fully online unit aims to provide students with an understanding of the burden of communicable diseases of public health significance in Australia, as well as the biology, epidemiology and surveillance for and control of those communicable diseases. By the end of this unit, the student will have the theoretical background to take up a position as a member of a Communicable Diseases section of a Commonwealth or State Health Department or Public Health Unit. It is expected that the students undertake an extra hour per week of reading, research and preparation for discussion.

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In exceptional circumstances students may seek Departmental permission to enrol in elective units offered in other Postgraduate courses in the Faculty of Medicine.