Advanced Course in Basic & Clinical Immunology

The 2024 Advanced Course in Basic & Clinical Immunology will be held February 4-February 7, 2024, in La Jolla, California. 16 course lectures from renowned faculty presented a clinical spin on major topics in cellular and molecular immunology.

The lectures, delivered by talented faculty who are renowned ability to span basic and clinical science, take attendees from the bench to the bedside and back again. 

A unique feature of the course is the faculty stay at the Estancia La Jolla for the duration of the course, so there is also ample opportunity for students to interact with the faculty outside the lecture room.

Course registration rates are available with and without a hotel lodging option.

Register early as this popular course regularly sells-out and rooms at the host hotel are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The course will be live and in-person during the dates specified above in San Diego, California. 

This course is designed for:

• Clinical fellows in disciplines related to immunology, including rheumatology, allergy, infectious disease, oncology, and transplantation
• Fellows doing basic research with an emphasis on human disease
• Scientists or other research and development personnel from biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies who are involved in developing new therapies for immunological disease
• Academic or community physicians who wish to enhance their understanding of immunology

After the course, attendees will be able to:

• Discuss the fundamental mechanisms underlying protective immune responses and discuss the recent advances and emerging themes in immunology research, including tumor immunity and the immunology of COVID-19.
• Describe the fundamental mechanisms underlying immunologic disease and associate these mechanisms with strategies for therapeutic modulation of the immune system.
• Appreciate the basic immunological principles underlying biotherapeutics, recognize the commonality among diverse organ-specific disease states, and infer the mechanisms of therapeutic effect.
• Analyze the medical literature reporting immunologic advances pertinent to their patients, cite the rationale for use of new immunodiagnostic and immunotherapeutic modalities in their patients, and serve as thought leaders within their medical communities.

More than 2,100 clinicians, researchers, and trainees have attended the course since it was first offered in 2007.

Read why past attendees enjoyed the course:

• “The course covered a wide range of topics of the immune system by experts in their fields, yet each lecture was also well-detailed, up to date with current/new research, and included theory related to therapeutics.”
• “It provided a very detailed overview of different areas of immunology, but each topic was presented in such a clear and digestible manner so as not to be overwhelming.”
• “I loved all the content presented in such a compelling way for such high-profile lecturers and researchers.”
• “I learned a lot about the different cell populations and their interactions.”
• “All topics were super relevant and interesting; we were provided with updated materials. The faculty showed not only camaraderie, but also excellent communication, especially when they referred to each other’s lectures.”
• “Extremely updated and precise lectures. Very well-presented and easy to follow.”
• “The presenters were amazing. I liked how the topics were broken up.”
• “It was a nice review from basic immunology concepts to more clinical applications.”

The U.S. Advanced Course FCE Travel Grant Program

FOCIS awards travel grants on a competitive basis to FCE trainees who demonstrate a desire to attend the U.S. Advanced Course. The value of the travel award is dependent on the FCE location.

• • A total of $500 per center is available for FCEs from the United States or Canada.
  • A total of $1,000 per center is available for international FCEs.

Eligibility Requirements: A) A trainee affiliated with an FCE, B) Membership in FOCIS confirmed before the course.

Application Process: Using their own selection criteria, FCE Directors may submit one primary and one secondary trainee candidate. Then, FOCIS will contact the candidates and request they complete an online application. Applications will be accepted from Tuesday, September 12 through Monday, November 6, 2023. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Review Process: The FCE Committee will review the applications and select the travel award recipients. The committee considers the following criteria when making decisions:

• Quality of submitted applicant materials (i.e., CV and statement of interest)
• Number of nominations received, with the goal of supporting as many FCEs as possible
• Timing of nomination, with preference given to earlier nominations
• Nominee classification, with preference given to primary candidates

Notification: Award recipients will be notified by email by Wednesday, November 22, 2023.

Requirements of Awardees: The travel grant award is to cover travel expenses incurred for attending the course. The award is given as a reimbursement after the event. Reimbursable expenses include air and ground transportation, hotel accommodations, and meals. Documentation of expenses incurred must be provided. Reimbursements will be processed through the FOCIS office.

IUIS and FOCIS Travel Award for Immunologists from the Developing World 

The IUIS Gender Equality and Career Development Committee (GEC) in collaboration with the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) will co-sponsor 4 trainees from the developing world to attend the above course. IUIS will pay for a travel bursary of up to USD 2,000 maximum, while FOCIS will cover for registration, 4 night’s accommodation and meals during the course. Additional expenses, if any will be the responsibility of the selected participant.

Previous experience indicates that the initiative has been very successful and the students have really appreciated the opportunity provided. Applications are now invited for the 2024 course. Interested candidates should possess sufficient background of immunology and comprehension of English to benefit maximally from the Advanced Course.

Prominent speakers will lecture on topics in cellular and molecular immunology, innate immunity, B and T cells, dendritic cells, cytokines and mucosal immunity. Special sessions will cover autoimmune, allergic and immunodeficiency diseases, as well as new advance in transplant and clinical immunology, and the molecular and genetic basis of immune-mediated diseases. There will be ample opportunity for attendees to interact with the faculty inside and outside the lecture rooms. The target audience includes clinical fellows in disciplines related to immunology (such as rheumatology, allergy, infectious disease, oncology and transplantation) and graduate students and fellows doing basic research with emphasis on human disease.

Please click here for further details about the course, schedule, speakers, and presentation titles.

Do not register for the course. The GEC Committee will do the selection of candidates for the four awards and forward their recommendation to FOCIS. Interested candidates should email i) brief CV with the list of publications in indexed journals, ii) a letter outlining how you would benefit from this course and iii) a letter of reference from the supervisor or mentor to Prof. Dr. Paola Ricciardi-Castagnoli (paola.castagnoli@gmail.com) AND Prof. Dr. Hannes Stockinger (hannes.stockinger@meduniwien.ac.at).

Application deadline: Wednesday, November 1, 2023 in order to allow time for the US visa for selected participants

Notification of awards: Friday, November 17, 2023

The awardees only will be notified by November 17, 2023.