CMB5201

Vaccine is the most cost-effective tool to combat viral infectious diseases, as illustrated by the successful eradication or significant reduction of once-devastating viral diseases such as smallpox, polio, rabies, and measles. The rapid development of vaccines for SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent for the COVID-19 pandemic, has helped to bring the pandemic under control. However, the misinformation about vaccines circulating in social media causes the anti-vaccine movement that threatens our public health and erodes the trust in biomedical sciences. In this course, we will:
- Review basic knowledge of viruses and our immune system- Present the history and basic principles of vaccines
- Introduce the representative vaccines developed for major viral diseases such as smallpox, polio, influenza, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus (HPV), Ebola, and COVID-19
- Present the methods for vaccine development
- Highlight the challenges and the innovative research in vaccine development
- Discuss the benefits and risks of vaccines
The overall goal of the course is to provide students with scientific knowledge of vaccines, foster students' interests in vaccine development, help students understand the basic concepts of virology and immunology, and prepare interested students for biomedical careers.
Targeted students: graduate students, professional students, and senior undergraduate students who are interested in medical virology, immunology, and vaccines.

Spring Even Year