LQB693 Immunological Approaches for Research

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Our immune system has evolved to discriminate between self and non-self in order to protect us against disease and to avoid autoimmune responses and disease. Understanding how our immune system works will allow an appreciation of the analyses, and their performance, required to monitor its function in health and disease. As one of the final units in the infection and immunity learning progression, this unit will collate the fundamental and advanced knowledge of immunology covered in the Biomedical Sciences' Infection and Immunity study area and illustrate the application of this knowledge and understanding by immunologists to recent real-world research focus areas. This approach will assist with your transition from university study into research career paths that understand and employ immunological research methods to investigate immunological study areas.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate your ability to work in a scientific team to critically analyse study data, methods and conclusions of published immunology papers and communicate scientifically in oral formats.
2. Implement laboratory techniques that address key questions in immunology and undertake appropriate statistical analysis of the data obtained providing accurate graphical and written representation of experimental results.
3. Provide evidence of your ability to apply scientific knowledge gained in addition to complex reasoning and quantitative skills to critique, analyse and solve immunological problems through professional scientific writing.
4. Exhibit knowledge of appropriate workplace health and safety and ethical scientific practices related to immunology.

Content

Learning Approaches

For each research focus area, online theory modules and research papers provided by active immunology research staff will support your learning. Each module will contain appropriate background and incorporate cutting-edge research related to each topic. The theory presented online will be complemented by weekly research workshops or laboratory technical classes. You will work both individually and in teams through immunological techniques and data analysis routinely undertaken in immunological research laboratories. The research study areas provide a practical component is designed to facilitate understanding and develop experience with experimental approaches employed in immunology. This will incorporate experimental design, technical problem-solving, data analysis and critical presentation of study results. 

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Throughout the semester you will be provided with feedback on your learning by participating in formative assessment items and discussing them with your classmates and teaching staff. Criteria and standards (rubrics) are provided for all summative assessment items. Feedback on summative assessment items will be provided and you should use this feedback to identify areas you might need to focus your learning on. Embedded self-reflective practice will assist in identifying student challenges and areas for development. Communication of assessment feedback information to students will be provided through both collated class feedback to allow for prompt feedback to support student learning followed by individual stduent feedback. Feedback practices may be amended in times of exceptional circumstances affecting learning and teaching. 

Assessment

Overview

This unit has a combination of formative and summative assessment items. You are most welcome to contact lecturers with specific questions for help with difficult concepts.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Research Journal Club

A journal club is an educational meeting where a group of people discuss published articles. Journal clubs are common in research labs where they allow staff and students to keep up to date with important new research and technologies.  In a teaching environment, journal clubs promote active learning and allow students to develop critical appraisal skills and improve knowledge of the scientific process which are important elements of becoming a good scientist.

Scientific communication and teamwork are very important aspects for scientists who work within research groups and interdisciplinary teams.  You will be randomly allocated into a group of three (3) or four (4) students. As a group, you will be provided with a recently published immunological peer-reviewed article from which to prepare a journal club presentations a  recorded oral presentation

You will be provided with a published scientific paper to address a research problem associated with study area #1. As a small working team, you will present a summarised journal club for your chosen publication. The assessment will consist of a recorded journal club oral presentation combining both group and individual components.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Practical Data Analysis Portfolio

How well scientists present and communicate their work affects how well their ideas are accepted. As a scientific researcher, you will undertake laboratory experiments for each research focus area during your laboratory session. This has led to the production of a body of raw data. Now, what do you do? Scientists need to analyse and present their raw data in a clear concise logical manner in the form of manuscripts. This requires you to use complex reasoning and quantitative skills to critique and analyse practical real-world experimental data to present conclusions and communicate scientifically. The generation and dissemination of scientific data is essential for scientific research. From your research focus area workshops, a generated set of results will be provided for each study area and you will be required to provide an accurate manuscript quality figure, written interpretation of results and conclusion for each topic area. From your lab practical you will complete technical tasks, analyse your data-set and reflect on the accuracy and technical aspects of laboratory tasks for each study area.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Research Short Communication

Short Communications/cutting-edge papers are brief, peer-reviewed articles focusing on a high-quality, hypothesis-driven, self-contained piece of original research and/or the proposal of a new theory or concept based on existing research. From your research study area grant proposal generated data, you will complete a short written scientific communication paper. The 'Short Communication' will include a letter to the editor, title/authors, abstract, background/introduction, methods, figures, figure legend, results/discussion and references. Using theoretical and practical data and knowledge gained from workshops and practical classes and current literature, you will present a short communication paper covering the aims outlined in study area #2.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Costs

Cost of lab gowns and safety protection glasses are the student's responsibility.

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

1. ebook available on QUT library: 
Abbas, A., Lichtman, A., Pillai, S., & Abbas, A. (2018). Cellular and molecular immunology (Ninth edition.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier.

QUT permalink: https://qut.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/61QUT_INST/1g7tbfa/alma991009424379004001

Safety and protective equipment

Practicals will require personal protective equipment supplied by each student:

1. Laboratory Gown - Rear fastening 100% cotton or polyester/cotton mix
2. Safety eye protection glasses - selected and used in accordance with Australian Safety Standards
3. Fully enclosed non-slip shoes

Risk Assessment Statement

This unit includes a laboratory component. In order that you become proficient in necessary practical skills, you will be trained in the handling of equipment, materials and specimens normally associated with this discipline. You are required to view a Health & Safety Induction video and complete an online health and safety quiz prior to being permitted into the laboratory, to access please follow this link Health & Safety Induction. A passing score of 10/10 is required and will be checked prior to entry to the first laboratory session. You may repeat the quiz until this score is achieved. You are also referred to the Faculty of Health's Health & Safety Web Site for further information.

If you have an underlying health condition you are encouraged to consult the lecturer in charge of the unit, as you may be required to take additional precautions on occasions.

Course Learning Outcomes

LS40 Bachelor of Biomedical Science

1. Critically review, analyse and synthesise foundational knowledge in a broad range of biomedical discipline areas and in depth theoretical, technical and practical knowledge in specialised discipline areas.
   Relates to: Research Short Communication
2. Demonstrate the technical skills required to solve multi-disciplinary problems in biomedical research, industry and clinical settings and do so in an ethical, safe and responsible manner.
   Relates to: Practical Data Analysis Portfolio
3. Demonstrate the cognitive skills required to find solutions to scientific problems.
   Relates to: Research Journal Club, Practical Data Analysis Portfolio, Research Short Communication
4. Contribute effectively to biomedical projects, either as an individual or as a member of a team, by demonstrating professional behaviour and participating in continuous learning.
   Relates to: Research Journal Club, Practical Data Analysis Portfolio
5. Apply knowledge and skills to rapidly source, critically analyse and communicate biomedical science information using appropriate technologies.
   Relates to: Research Journal Club, Practical Data Analysis Portfolio, Research Short Communication