HMX Pro Immunology
Novel Therapies for Chronic Inflammation, Autoimmunity, and Allergy
Learn how the immune system is being harnessed to treat diseases caused by inflammatory immune responses.
Advances in our knowledge of the immune system are uncovering connections between inflammation and many different diseases.
Understanding how the immune system is activated and regulated is essential for anyone working to develop treatments for autoimmunity, chronic inflammation, and allergy, or to apply these treatments in the clinic.
This online course offers a unique way for professionals to learn from leading Harvard Medical School faculty about cutting-edge therapies to treat chronic inflammation and related diseases.
Course Topics
Overview of Inflammatory Disease
- What is Inflammation?
- The Promise of Treating Chronic Inflammatory Diseases
The Immunology of Inflammatory Disease
- Autoimmunity, Chronic Inflammation, and Transplants
- Allergies
- Therapeutic Approaches
- Clinical Linkage: Psoriasis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Anti-Cytokine Therapies
- Anti-TNF Therapies
- Anti-IL-1 Therapies
- Anti-IL-6 Therapies
- Anti-IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 Therapies
- Anti IL-17, IL-12, and IL-23 Therapies
- Anti-CD25 Therapies
- Clinical Linkage: Treatment of Psoriasis
Targeting Immune Cells, Migration, and Signaling
- B Cell Depletion
- Cell Migration Inhibitors
- JAK Inhibitors
- CTLA-4 Agonists
- Anti-IgE and Anti-C5 Therapies
- Novel Therapies
- Clinical Linkage: Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Wrap-up
- The Future of Treating Chronic Inflammatory Diseases
Download the course outline
Course Instructors
Andrew Lichtman, MD, PhD
Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School
Senior Pathologist, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Shiv Pillai, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine and Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School
Immunologist and Geneticist, Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital
Director, MMSc in Immunology Program, Harvard Medical School
Associate Program Head, Graduate Program in Immunology, Harvard Medical School
Andrew Pike, PhD
Lecturer in Immunology, Harvard Medical School
More Information
Frequently asked questions
Who should take this course?
This course is appropriate for professionals in health care and life sciences whose work focuses on chronic inflammation and related diseases.
What do participants need to know to succeed in this course?
We recommend knowledge of basic chemistry, biology, and physics, as well as knowledge of the fundamentals of immunology. This is an advanced course; for those who require more background in key immunology concepts, we offer HMX Fundamentals Immunology.
Not sure if you’re ready for an advanced course? Gauge your knowledge of immunology by taking this short quiz.
What is the time commitment?
Most people can expect to spend around 15–20 hours total, but this depends on your baseline knowledge, how carefully you take notes, and how seriously you take the assessments. Lessons from the courses are released weekly and remain available until the courses end, so you can work at your own pace. There is a final exam at the end of each course that can be taken any time during the final exam period.
Can participants earn certificates from Harvard Medical School?
There are two certification levels, based on participant scores:
- Certificate of Achievement
- Certificate of Completion