Introduction

This postgraduate course will expand your knowledge on the latest developments and novel insights in infectious disease control and research from inter-related disciplines. It highlights key scientific questions and next-generation methodologies to investigate the pathogenesis of microbial diseases, how microorganisms adapt to the host' environment and evade immune defenses at a molecular level. Additionally, the course covers the development and roll-out of novel preventive therapeutics and vaccines, as well as addressing both old and new pandemics and related public and global health issues. This course is strictly meant for PhD candidates working on projects requiring substantial and overarching knowledge of infectious diseases.

Goal

This course aims to broaden participant’s knowledge, beyond their own expertise or discipline, focusing on the latest developments in infectious diseases control and research from interrelated disciplines. It seeks to enhance understanding of key scientific questions and approaches in microbiology and infectious disease research, leading to new insights and the development of novel strategies to combat infectious diseases both locally and globally. Additionally, this course will encourage future collaboration among individual PhD candidates.

Target group

This course is strictly meant for PhD candidates working on projects that require substantial knowledge of fundamental principles in microbiology and infectious diseases. The course has a strong focus on molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen interaction, public & global health, diagnostics and therapeutics and preventive strategies. It is recommended to attend this course in the second year of the PhD project.

Format

This four-day, full-time course runs once a year. Lectures cover selected topics and are given by various national experts, with a focus on those affiliated with Amsterdam UMC. Lectures are combined with discussions on relevant topics (for example recent out-breaks, AMR), and social activities to stimulate future collaboration.

Program

In this course day-program themes include the four overarching major themes of the Infectious Disease program of AI&I:

• Public & Global Health (day 1)
• Host-microbe Interactions (day 2)
• Diagnostics & Therapeutics (day 3)
• Vaccines & other Preventive Strategies (day 4)

Preliminary list of sub-topics:

• Infectious diseases control strategies in the Netherlands and globally
• One Health / Climate change / Zoonoses
• Old and new pandemics (Influenzae; HIV; Mpox; breaking news out-break)
• Tick transmitted infections
• Microbiota and health; human blood virome
• Fungal infections; AMR; Post-COVID
• Development of new therapeutics
• Vaccines and vaccination
• Tuberculosis; Streptococcal disease; RSV; HIV diversity

Participants of the course should have a good basic knowledge of microbiology (Mims Medical Microbiology and Immunology; Microbiology An Evolving Science by Slonczewski) such as obtained during graduate training.

Please register here.

Registration is on first-come, first-serve basis. Deadline registration: February 26, 2026.

Costs

• For PhD candidates being part of the Amsterdam institute for Immunology & Infectious diseases (AI&I) the registration fee is waived.
• Other PhD candidates will pay a registration fee of Euro 300,-.

Lunch: is included.

Certificate

For PhD's to qualify for the certificate, a participant must attend all lectures and workshops. Attendance is registered.

Study load

40 hours, which is comparable to 1.5 ECTS points.

Cancellations

Cancellation of your registration can only be done in writing to events@amsterdamumc.nl. Cancellation costs after February 26 are 100 Euro.

Course Committee: Karin van Dijk, Bram Goorhuis, Hester Korthals Altes, Yvonne Pannekoek, Kwinten Sliepen en Steven de Taeye.

Contact: AI&I Management Team: aii@amsterdamumc.nl.