Biomedical Science - Infection and Immunity MRes

**Learn how to carry out life-saving research that advances vaccine development, antibiotic treatment and immunotherapy.**<br/><br/>How are diseases contracted? What can we do to help affected communities? Can we use vaccines to prevent the spread? Answering these questions is vital if we want to reduce suffering and eradicate disease around the world.<br/><br/>Saving lives starts with understanding the pathogenesis of infection and virulence mechanisms. Studying with us, you’ll learn how to apply this expertise to create vaccines, antibiotic treatments and cancer-fighting immunotherapy.<br/><br/>**Kickstart your research career**<br/>Research and innovation are in our DNA. Edward Jenner, whose groundbreaking work contributed to the eradication of smallpox, completed his medical training at St George’s in 1770. More recently, our research has helped accelerate the treatment of tuberculosis, malaria, HIV and Covid-19.<br/><br/>You’ll learn from experts in all aspects of the physiology, molecular biology, immunology and diagnostics of infectious diseases. Their latest research is exploring fascinating areas like the physiology of malarial parasites and rapid diagnostics for infectious diseases. <br/><br/>**Why St Georges?**<br/>- Diverse research expertise – our research covers five key themes: pathogen biology and genomics, diagnostics, immunology and pathophysiology, therapeutics and vaccinology, and clinical and tropical infection. <br/><br/><br/>- Expert research community – you’ll have access to specialist equipment and expertise in clinical, epidemiological and laboratory research. Your project might involve working with clinical samples or staff on our hospital sites.<br/><br/><br/>- Intense research training – completing an MRes means you’ll spend nine months working on a research project and receive one-to-one training. Past students have even been listed as authors of published papers.<br/><br/><br/>**Course content**<br/>Whichever biomedical science pathway you pick, you’ll complete three core modules: Research Methods, Statistics, and Research Project Planning and Management.<br/><br/>All the core modules provide advanced training in biomedical research and help you interpret data. You’ll develop specialist skills in tissue culture, handling of clinical specimens, flow cytometry, gene cloning and protein techniques, microbiological techniques and more.<br/><br/>Throughout the year, you’ll also develop specialist knowledge in clinical biomedical research. We’ll look at how to carry out studies in a clinical environment and implement strategies needed to improve current healthcare practices.<br/><br/>**Your research project**<br/>Unlike MSc courses, you’ll complete an extensive research project which involves spending up to nine months working as part of a research team. This may provide an opportunity to work with clinical samples or staff on our hospital sites.<br/><br/>During the first term, you’ll meet potential supervisors and pick a project. Past projects have investigated the mucosal immunity to group B streptococcus and explored the development of hepatitis A virus-like particles in a plant system​.