Ag.Head Of Deparment:     

Dr. K. J.J. Atemie

Contact E-mail: 

kalodada.korubo@uniport.edu.ng

Contact Phone Number(s):     

08037492400

The Department of Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Immunology is one of the arms of Pathology. It is made up of an academic, technical and secretarial unit with the aim of delivering quality education to both undergraduate and postgraduate students who are expected to acquire both theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in the fire of Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Immunology. The knowledge obtained at the end of the session can then be applied in clinical medicine.

SECTION: 1: UNDERGRADUATE COURSES

Haematology is the study of blood, the blood forming organs and their disorders. Transfusion medicine deals with all aspects involved in the provision of safe blood and blood components. Immunology is the scientific study of the immune system. These major sciences make up the department of haematology, blood transfusion and Immunology.

Undergraduate students in the Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Immunology undergo assessments up to three times during the academic session. The curriculum, which spans a period of nine months, is well structured to impart knowledge and appropriate skills to our medical Students. This is achieved through lectures, practical, tutorials and clinical case demonstrations in the clinic s and wards. Attendances at these sessions are recorded and there are continuous assessments at regular intervals. They occur at the end of the introductory posting, mid-way through the block posting and at the end of the block posting. These assessments sum up to be 30% of their total examination score. Students are required to have attended up to 75% of their lectures in order to be qualified to take the examination at the end of the course. Recently, the department began a postgraduate M.Sc programme in Immunology. The department is also involved in the training of resident doctors in Haematology. This is done in collaboration with the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

For the MB.BS/ BDS students, the academic session is divided into an introductory posting and a block posting. During the introductory posting, students receive lectures for about six to seven hours on a specific day of the week. At the block posting, they receive gigantic lectures and undergo practical sessions for a period of 5 months. They also participate in group seminars and projects. Students in Pharmacy receive semester based lectures.

The practical sessions are aimed at giving the students hands-on training in basic techniques in Haematology, Blood Transfusion and Immunology such as performance of manual blood counts, identification of blood cells (morphology), blood banking serological procedures, and the principles of immunological assays. The students also participate in the clinical aspects of haematology. They rotate through the haematology daycare, clinic, and ward round sessions. The department is also involved in research and collaborates with other departments.

The department services:

• MB.BS/ BDS programme
• Pharmacy students
• M-Sc Immunology programme

COURSE OUTLINE

The course content includes but not limited to:

1. Haematology

1. Introductory Haematology

1. Haematopoiesis
2. Growth Factors
3. Spleens

1. Benign Haematology

1. Red Cell Pathology

•  The Anaemias
•  Iron Metabolism
•  Folate and Vitamin B12 Metabolism
•  Haemoglobinopathies
•  Red cell enzymopathies
•  Macrocytic anaemias
• Inherited and Acquired bone marrow failure syndromes

2. White cell Pathology

• Disorders of granulocytic and monocyte function
•  Neutropoenia/Neutrophilia
•  Eosinophilia
•  Basophilia
•  Leukocytosis/ Leukopoenia
•  Lymphocytosis/Lymphopoenia
•  Monocytosis/ Monocytopoenia

2. Malignant Haematology

1. Leukaemogenesis
2. Leukaemias
3. Lymphomas
4. Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
5. Lymphoproliferative Neoplasms
6. Plasma cell dyscrasias
7. Myelodysplastic Syndromes
8. Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
9. Molecular methods in haematology

1. Coagulation

1. Coagulation factors
2. Inherited disorders of coagulation

• Haemophilias
• von Willebrand’s disease

3. Acquired Coagulopathies

• Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy
• Liver Disease
• Haemorrhagic disease of the newborn

2. Thrombosis

1. Venous thromboembolism
2. Inherited Thrombophilia
3. Thrombophilia work up
4. Anticoagulant therapy

3. Practical Haematology
4. Moiphologic basis of haematological disorders

B. Blood Transfusion:

1. Transfusion medicine
2. Component therapy
3. Blood Products Preparation
4. Red Cell Antigens
5. Haemo lytic disease of the newborn
6. Adverse effects of Transfusion
7. Serology
8. Practical aspects of Transfusion Medicine

C. Immunology:

1. General Immunology (Immunity, Tolerance, Complement, Hypersensitivity, Transplantation).
2. Antigens and Antibodies
3. Human leukocyte antigens
4. Immunology of bacterial, Viral, fungal and parasitic diseases.
5. Immunological tests and practical.
6. Immunoproliferative disorders

SECTION: 2: POSTGRADUATE COURSES

MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.SC) IN IMMUNOLOGY PROGRAMME.

1. INTRODUCTION

Immunology is the scientific study of the immune system including allergies, resistance to disease, and acceptance or rejection of foreign tissue. The human immune system has undergone diverse extensive and intensive evolutionary changed due to specific and a wide diversity of antigenic challenged.

Following the discovery in 1796 of the small pox vaccine by the British Physician Edward Jenner, immunology as a discipline has evolved over the years in to a recognized discipline of study. However, the study of immunology is mainly post graduate. Presently, there are few post graduate programs in immunology in Nigerian Universities; thus specialist immunologists are scare.

The present programme aims to bridge this gap.

2. PHILOSOPHY OF THE PROGRAMME

To help train high level manpower in immunology to facilitate research on various aspects of immunology, including the immuno- Pathology of diseases.

3. OBJECTIVE

The course is designed to train biological sciences graduates as well as Medical and Dental graduates, who wish to broaden their knowledge in the subject and enhance their employment opportunities in both the academia and industry. For those who intend to remain in the academia, it will help them to acquire the research expertise required to undertake a PhD degree programme in immunology.

4. DEGREE OFFERED

Master of Sciences (M.Sc) in Immunology.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

The course is open to graduates of Medicine, Dentistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Animal Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Zoology and other relevant courses.

Applicants who hold a minimum of Second Class Honors (Lower Division) degree, with CGPA of not less than 3,00 on a 5.00 scale(except for Medical, Dental and Pharmacy graduates whose degrees are unclassified) in any of the above mentioned subject, from the university of Port Harcourt or other Universities recognized by the Senate of the University of Port Harcourt shall be eligible for admission into the programme.

6. PROGRAMME DURATION AND TYPE

The course will be a taught course that will combine lectures, practical exercise and a laboratory based research project. It shall be both full time and part time.

The full time program shall run for a minimum of 12 calendar months (l year) and a minimum of 24 calendar months (2 year); while the part time programme shall run for a minimum of 24 calendar months (2years) and a maximum of 48 calendar months (4 years).

7. COURSE CONTENT

The following are the courses that constitute the course content for the proposed programme.

First Semester

Second Semester

Total credit Unit=30

1.         DESCRIPTION OF COURSE

Below is a detailed description of each of all the course that would be taught in the programme.

IMM. 80 U BASIC IMMUNOLOGY I

(IMMUNOPHYSIOLOGY)

This course will give an understanding of the structure and functioning of the immune system, as well as cellular interactions involved in host defense mechanisms. Course details are: introduction te immunology, the lymphoid system, cells involve in immune response- their organization, diversity and specialized functions, antigen processing and presentation, B and T lymphocyte receptors/ activation, immunogen and immune responses immune responses and immune tolerance.

Introduction to genes and genomes

IMMU 802.1: BASIC IMMUNOLOGY II

(IMMUNOCHEMISTRY)

This course will deal with serum factors that are involved in immune response and those that amplify such responses. Details include the immunoglobulin: structure, functions, metabolism, classification, monoclonal antibodies, nature and consequences of antigen – antibody interaction, the complement system, components, reaction pathways, interactions with other body systems, regulatory proteins, the role of cytokines in the body defense mechanisms. Recombinant DNA technology and genomics.

IMM 803.1: CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY I

(IMMUNOPATHOLOGY)

The course deals with the immunopathology and immunopathogenesis of certain diseases conditions. It will give a detailed consideration and appreciation of the role the immune system in disease states with immunological undertone, like allergies, autoimmune diseases, transplant rejection and others. It will also lead to a better understanding of the diseases conditions arising from functional aberrations of the immune system. The following are some of the conditions: hypersensitivity states, autoimmunity and autoimmune disorders, the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system and immunology of transplantation. Immunomodulation, immunosuppression and immunosuppressive therapy, immunopotentiation,immunoglobinopathies, tumor immunology, immunodeficiency state, basic introduction to proteomics.

IMM. 804.1 CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY II (SELECTED TOPICS IN CLINCAL IMMUNOLOGY)

The course will lead to an in-depth understanding of health and diseases conditions in which the immune system is involved at the molecular/ genetic levels. It will deal with: immunology of reproduction, immunology of infertility and pregnancy complications, immune-genetics, immune-haematology, immune- pharmacy, neonatal immunology, immunology of malnutrition.

IMM. 805.1: IMMUNOLOGY OF TROPICAL

INFECTIONS

The course will focus on the immunology of microbial infections, especially those microbes of importance in the tropics. It will cover, immunology of parasitic infections, malaria, trypanosomiasis , onchocerchiasis, helminth infections and other worm infestations, immunbllgy of bacterial infections, immunology of viral infections, (including HIV) immunology of fungal infections.

IMM. 806.2: RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES AND

BIOSTATISTICS

Candidates will be exposed to research methodologies that will include immunological methods of determining

1. Human parameters
2. Cellular parameters and
3. Advanced immunological techniques.

Candidates will also be taught relevant areas of biostatistics including data collection and analysis.

IMM. 807.2 RESEARCH SEMINARS

Candidates will be required to present seminars on Various topics on immunology.

IMM. 08.2: GROUP STUDY EXPERIMENTAL WORK

Candidates will undertake group experimental work; write up the reports of such work and present at class discussion sessions.

IMM. 809.2: LABORATORY BASED RESEARCH PROJECT

Candidates will carry out laboratory based research projects which will be presented as dissertations for assessment at the end of the programme. The assessment will include a successful defense of the dissertation.

9.  EXAMINATIONS

There shall be periodic continuous assessment for all cures except the Research Seminar and the Research project courses i.e IMM.807.2 and IMM. 809.2. Continuous assessment shall make up 30% of the entire examination. Each written examination for each course shall consist of an objective and an essay paper. The pass mark shall be 50%.