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Exercise and Clinical Immunology 1st YEAR

Toekomst
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Human Movement Sciences: Sport, Exercise and Health (Research)
English
6 ECTS

The purpose of the course Exercise and Clinical Immunology is to introduce students into the etiology of major chronic diseases in which local or systemic inflammation and/or a compromised adaptive immune response plays a substantial role.

Students will be acquainted with the basic principles and working mechanisms of the immune system and how dysregulation thereof is involved in the etiology of chronic diseases. Since evidence shows that exercise may impact on the functioning of the immune system, students will get acquainted with the mechanisms via which the physical exercise may affect cells of the immune system directly or indirectly by modulation the function of other organ systems. Students will explore and report by literature research the current state of knowledge on the role of the immune system and exercise in the development of the diseases discussed.

Dr. R.T. Jaspers

Prof. dr. TJ de Vries

Prof. Dr. W.F. Lems

Course Description

Chronic diseases such as Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes II, Alzheimer, Periodontitis, Cancer, Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Chronic low back pain as well as aging related frailty. The 8-10 chronic diseases are selected because they all have a high prevalence and high morbidity (and some of them are also associated with an increased mortality), low grade local or systemic inflammation plays a role, and evidence is available that exercise has positive effects in the majority of these diseases.

The course consists of a series of lectures in which clinical signs and symptoms of the diseases and the role of the immune system will be explained and discussed based on general knowledge as well as state of the art results.

In order to prepare students with sufficient knowledge to understand the role of the immune system in the different diseases, two introduction lectures will be provided on general elements of the immune system, innate immunity, adaptive immunity and vaccination. As physical exercise seems to improve morbidity and reduce mortality is of patients suffering from the above mentioned chronic diseases, questions will be addressed whether and how physical exercise may affect immunocompetence and development/progression of the disease. Exercise stimulates the production of growth factors and cytokines in bones, skeletal muscle and cardiorespiratory systems which may have paracrine and endocrine effects on the cell and organs which are critically involved in development and progression of one or more the diseases.

Study Characteristics

  • Discipline: Human Movement Sciences: Sport, Exercise and Health (Research)
  • Type of education: Lecture, Meeting; 
  • Academic skill: N/A
  • Graduate School: N/A
  • Start date: TBD
  • End date: TBD
  • Minimum number of students: N/A
  • Maximum number of students: N/A
  • Admission criteria: Contact the course coordinator for information on admission criteria: Dr. R.T. Jaspers
  • Concluding assessment: N/A
  • Assessment type: N/A
  • With Certificate: N/A
  • Schedule info: The course consists of a series of lectures in which either clinicians with special clinical expertise and scientific background in the disease or preclinical researchers will introduce the immune system, major symptoms and etiology of the disease on which they are professionally working and how the immune system and exercise are involved in this. Since these lectures cover a wide range of aspects of the disease they need extensive preparation by reading the papers.
    During the course, students will write a research essay about one of the diseases that will be discussed in the lectures.
    Halfway the course, students will participate in a workshop entitled "Giving an audience-focused presentation" to improve their presentation skills.
    At the end of the course each student will bring these skills into practice by giving a presentation about the disease to which they were assigned and the outcome of their literature research. After each presentation there is room for a group discussion.
    The contact hours and presentations are intended to support the learning process and have the following goals:
    • To obtain an introduction into 8-10 clinical diseases
    • To place immunology and exercise within a clinical context of chronic diseases.
    • To accentuate importance of the content
    • To identify content importance for the movement sciences
    • To discuss content difficulties that may arise after independent study of assigned literature
    • To practice knowledge obtained during the course
  • Number of lessons: 17
  • Total course duration in hrs.: 30 hrs / 15 lectures, 8 hrs / 2 sessions with presentations, 120 hrs preparation for contact hours and exam.
  • Sign up period: N/A
  • Anticipated hrs of study: 120 hrs
  • Available to: PhD students VU (and VU RMA students)

  • Course Description & Study Characteristics

    Course Description

    Chronic diseases such as Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes II, Alzheimer, Periodontitis, Cancer, Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Chronic low back pain as well as aging related frailty. The 8-10 chronic diseases are selected because they all have a high prevalence and high morbidity (and some of them are also associated with an increased mortality), low grade local or systemic inflammation plays a role, and evidence is available that exercise has positive effects in the majority of these diseases.

    The course consists of a series of lectures in which clinical signs and symptoms of the diseases and the role of the immune system will be explained and discussed based on general knowledge as well as state of the art results.

    In order to prepare students with sufficient knowledge to understand the role of the immune system in the different diseases, two introduction lectures will be provided on general elements of the immune system, innate immunity, adaptive immunity and vaccination. As physical exercise seems to improve morbidity and reduce mortality is of patients suffering from the above mentioned chronic diseases, questions will be addressed whether and how physical exercise may affect immunocompetence and development/progression of the disease. Exercise stimulates the production of growth factors and cytokines in bones, skeletal muscle and cardiorespiratory systems which may have paracrine and endocrine effects on the cell and organs which are critically involved in development and progression of one or more the diseases.

    Study Characteristics

    • Discipline: Human Movement Sciences: Sport, Exercise and Health (Research)
    • Type of education: Lecture, Meeting; 
    • Academic skill: N/A
    • Graduate School: N/A
    • Start date: TBD
    • End date: TBD
    • Minimum number of students: N/A
    • Maximum number of students: N/A
    • Admission criteria: Contact the course coordinator for information on admission criteria: Dr. R.T. Jaspers
    • Concluding assessment: N/A
    • Assessment type: N/A
    • With Certificate: N/A
    • Schedule info: The course consists of a series of lectures in which either clinicians with special clinical expertise and scientific background in the disease or preclinical researchers will introduce the immune system, major symptoms and etiology of the disease on which they are professionally working and how the immune system and exercise are involved in this. Since these lectures cover a wide range of aspects of the disease they need extensive preparation by reading the papers.
      During the course, students will write a research essay about one of the diseases that will be discussed in the lectures.
      Halfway the course, students will participate in a workshop entitled "Giving an audience-focused presentation" to improve their presentation skills.
      At the end of the course each student will bring these skills into practice by giving a presentation about the disease to which they were assigned and the outcome of their literature research. After each presentation there is room for a group discussion.
      The contact hours and presentations are intended to support the learning process and have the following goals:
      • To obtain an introduction into 8-10 clinical diseases
      • To place immunology and exercise within a clinical context of chronic diseases.
      • To accentuate importance of the content
      • To identify content importance for the movement sciences
      • To discuss content difficulties that may arise after independent study of assigned literature
      • To practice knowledge obtained during the course
    • Number of lessons: 17
    • Total course duration in hrs.: 30 hrs / 15 lectures, 8 hrs / 2 sessions with presentations, 120 hrs preparation for contact hours and exam.
    • Sign up period: N/A
    • Anticipated hrs of study: 120 hrs
    • Available to: PhD students VU (and VU RMA students)

Would you like to register or want to know more?

Please contact the course coordinator dr. R.T. Jaspers:

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