Immuno-oncology

  • HMX

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Registration Deadline: August 26

Group Enrollment Option A program that is a popular choice for organizations and institutions to purchase in bulk.

Learn how the immune system is being harnessed to improve cancer treatment.

  • Online; Instructor-Paced

Lessons are released weekly and remain available until the course ends.

$1,025

Enroll early to receive 10% off. Multi-course bundle pricing is also available. 

Early Registration Deadline:

Certificate

There are two certification levels, based on participant scores: Certificate of Achievement; Certificate of Completion

10 Weeks, 1-2 Hours/Week

Most people can expect to spend around 15–20 hours total, but this depends on your baseline knowledge and how carefully you take notes.

On This Page

Overview

Advances in our knowledge of the immune system are changing the ways in which we treat various types of cancer. Understanding how immune cells recognize and kill cancer cells, and what we can do to enhance their ability to fight cancer, is important for anyone working to develop new cancer treatments or apply them in the clinic. 

In this advanced HMX course, you will explore the interactions between cancer and the immune system. Through engaging, interactive lessons, you will learn the potential for harnessing the immune system to treat cancer, providing insights into innovative therapies such as immune checkpoint blockade, CAR T cell therapies, and tumor vaccines. With the help of real-world examples, you will gain a strong understanding of immuno-oncology that provides context for learning about future developments in this field. 

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the basics of tumor immunology
  • Get an inside look at novel immunotherapies including checkpoint blockade and CAR T cell therapy
  • See how advanced knowledge of the immune system is impacting patient care

Participant Types

Scientists in immunology or cancer-related research; clinicians or other medical professionals; health care industry and research professionals

About the Course

HMX online courses bring complex material to life through engaging biomedical visualizations, clinical applications, and true-to-life scenarios paired with lectures from Harvard Medical School faculty and leading experts. 

Who Should Apply

This advanced course is appropriate for scientists in immunology or cancer-related research looking to gain clinical insights from both patient and physician perspectives on treating cancer using immunological approaches; clinicians or other medical professionals seeking detailed mechanistic explanations of the immune response to cancer, in addition to a comprehensive overview of immunological treatment strategies; health care industry and research professionals who are eager to develop a solid understanding of the fundamental aspects of the immune system in the context of cancer, balanced with in-depth discussion of clinical applications.

Course Format

Most people can expect to spend around 15–20 hours total, but this depends on your baseline knowledge, how carefully you take notes, and how seriously you take the assessments. Lessons from the courses are released toward the beginning of the course session and remain available until the courses end, so you can work at your own pace. There is a final exam at the end of each course that can be taken at any time during the multi-week final exam period. The flexible course format makes this an ideal choice for working professionals.

Additional Course Information

For information around payments and policies, please review our frequently asked questions.

Overview of Immuno-oncology

  • What is Cancer?
  • The Promise of Immuno-oncology

Basic Tumor Immunology

  • The Biology of Cancer
  • Immune Recognition
  • Induction of the Immune Response: CD8+ T Cells
  • Induction of the Immune Response: CD4+ T Cells
  • Immune Response of NK Cells
  • Immune Evasion: T Cells
  • Immune Evasion: Other Cells
  • Clinical Linkage: Tumor Immunology

Checkpoint Blockade

  • Mechanisms of Checkpoint Blockade
  • Response of Different Tumor Types
  • Complications of Checkpoint Blockade
  • Clinical Linkage: Checkpoint Blockade Therapy in Melanoma

CAR T and Other Novel Therapies

  • Basics of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cells
  • Complications of CAR T Cell Therapy
  • Bispecific T Cell Engagers (BiTEs)
  • Tumor Vaccines
  • Oncolytic Viruses
  • Advances in Checkpoint Blockade Therapy
  • Novel CAR Cells
  • Combination Treatments
  • Other Therapies
  • Clinical Linkage: CAR T Cell Therapy

Wrap-up

  • The Future of Immuno-oncology

We recommend knowledge of basic chemistry, biology, and physics, as well as knowledge of key immunology concepts. This is an advanced course; for those who require more background in immunology, we offer Immunology.

Your scores and participation in assessments throughout the course, including a final exam, will determine whether you qualify for a Certificate of Achievement or Certificate of Completion from Harvard Medical School. Earning a certificate requires significant effort, and not all participants will meet that level of achievement. You will not receive a letter grade (A, B, C, and so on). 

Are you ready to elevate your educational journey and maximize the investment in your future?

You can bundle up to five HMX fundamental or advanced courses. Bundle discounts apply to all courses selected. All courses in a bundle must be completed during the following two enrollment periods.

Two-course bundle: 25% discount 
Three-course bundle: 30% discount 
Four-course bundle: 35% discount
Five-course bundle: 40% discount

Group Enrollments

HMX courses are ideal for organizations looking to train teams or larger groups. Group pricing is available, making it a cost-effective investment in team development.

Faculty

HMX courses are led by Harvard Medical School faculty, working in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team of experts in biomedical visualization, assessment, and the science of learning to create a unique learning experience that will stay with you.

Keith Flaherty, MD, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School / Hematologist/ Oncologist, Massachusetts General Hospital

Gordon Freeman, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Timothy Graubert, MD, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School / Hematologist/Oncologist, Massachusetts General Hospital

F. Stephen Hodi, MD, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School / Medical Oncologist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Marcela Maus, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School / Hematologist/Oncologist, Massachusetts General Hospital

Nikhil C. Munshi, MD, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School / Medical Oncologist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Lynette Sholl, MD, Associate Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School / Pathologist, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Scott Rodig, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School / Pathologist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Arlene Sharpe, MD, PhD, Kolokotrones University Professor, Harvard Medical School / Chair of the Department of Immunology and Director of the Mouse Engineering Core, Harvard Medical School

Course Quiz

Are you ready for an advanced course? We recommend knowledge of basic chemistry, biology, and physics, as well as knowledge of key immunology concepts. Gauge your knowledge of immunology by taking this short quiz.

From Our Learners

Hear from HMX students as they share their experiences learning online with Harvard Medical School.

"[This course] provides a really strong foundation to be able to very much lean into the future in terms of the developments of immuno-oncology."

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