The Inflammation Network will offer subject-specific PhD courses (at least one PhD course a year) The various courses will delve into the extensive range of topics mentioned below, providing PhD students with essential resources for innovative research and allowing them to grasp the latest developments and techniques in their field of study.

• Fundamentals of inflammation
  • Overview of the biological and molecular mechanisms and causes of inflammation.
  • Historical perspectives and contemporary understandings of inflammatory processes.
• Advanced immunology
  • Gain a comprehensive understanding of how the immune system contributes to inflammation, covering both innate and adaptive immunity.
  • Exploration of immunological techniques used in inflammation research.
• Molecular and cellular basis of inflammation
  • Detailed study of the cellular pathways and molecular mediators involved in inflammation.
  • Laboratory techniques for studying cellular responses and signalling pathways in vivo and in vitro.
• Inflammation in disease
  • Examination of the role of inflammation in various diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic inflammatory conditions.
  • Examination of the relationship between environmental exposures, inflammation, and subsequent diseases.
  • Case studies on the therapeutic targeting of inflammation.
• Clinical aspects of inflammation
  • Insights into the diagnosis, treatment, and management of inflammatory diseases.
  • Discussion on the translation of research findings into clinical practice.
• Emerging technologies in inflammation research
  • Introduction to groundbreaking technologies and their applications in studying inflammation, such as single-cell RNA sequencing, OMICs and CRISPR.
  • Practical workshops on employing these technologies in research projects.
• Data analysis in inflammation research
  • Training in bioinformatics and statistical methods for analysing data from inflammation studies.
  • Hands-on sessions with software tools for e.g. OMICs data analysis.

PhD courses in 2025

 Please note, PhD courses offered in 2025 can be found in PhD Course Management from October 2024.

Some courses of specific interest for the subject-specific PhD programme in inflammation are outlined below; you can read about them in PhD Course Management.

You can find an overview of courses related to the Inflammation Network here.

Compulsary courses

It is mandartoy to participate in one PhD course, and you need to participate in one of the below two courses:

B288/05 Host pathogen interactions – from basic microbiology and immunology to medicine.
B226 Molecular immunology

Optional courses

B69/34 Flow cytometry
C204/14 Basic and practical course in quantitative immunoassays
 

Annual meeting in the Inflammation Programme for PhD students with dedicated feedback sessions

The Inflammation Network Day represents a significant event for the academic community involved in inflammation research. This day is an opportunity for PhD students to engage actively with the wider research community by submiting abstracts for the annual meeting. These submissions are not only a chance to showcase current research projects, but also to contribute to the ongoing dialogue in inflammation research.

Following the Inflammation Network Day, the organisers arrange a dedicated feedback session. This subsequent meeting is a crucial component of the event, where participants of the inflammation programme, including both PhD students and senior researchers, come together. Within this session, the participants of the inflammation programme offer comprehensive feedback on the presentations delivered by the students during the annual Inflammation Network Day.

The structure of these two days maximizes the educational and developmental benefits for those involved in the inflammation programme. By participating, PhD students not only gain exposure to the latest research in their field but also develop their skills in critical analysis, presentation, and scientific communication. It is a dual program, so PhD students enrolled in the subject-specific PhD programme in inflammation is obliged to participate in the Annual Inflammation Network Day and the subsequent feedback session.

Please see the content for 2024 inflammation network day: 4th Inflammation Network Day (au.dk).
The 5th Inflammation Network Day will be on 13-14 March 2025. The programme is still in progress.

International guest lecturer will be invited annually to deliver a lecture, fostering global perspectives, networking, and enriching academic experiences. Below are examples, but more will follow.

Title: “Are infectious diseases really infectious?”
Short presentation of the guest lecture: Honorary Skou professor Jean-Laurent Casanova from Rockefeller University, New York, US. Professor Casanova deciphers rare and common human genetic and immunological determinants of life-threatening infectious diseases.
Date: September 2025
Location: To be announced

Title: "The compromised gut: Systemic responses in intestinal failure"
Short presentation of the guest lecture: Honorary Skou professor Simon Lal, Manchester University, UK. Professor Lal area of expertise is centered around gastrointestinal disease, the gut microbiome and related issues including diet
Date: Wednesday 30 April 2025
Location: Aarhus University Hospital, C114-101 (University Square South, Entrance C)

PhD students are expected to actively participate in at least one inflammation journal club. These clubs are crucial for critical analysis and fostering a culture of inquiry and debate, enhancing understanding and keeping students updated on scientific advancements. They also provide important networking opportunities, connecting students with peers and experts, and promoting collaborative learning and potential research collaborations.

An overview of available journal clubs at Health can found in the datebase.

Below are listed some of specific interest for PhD students atending the subject-specific PhD programme in inflammation. You can find more information about the journal clubs in the database above.

• Inflammation as related to cardiovascular system, blood vessels, endothelial cell biology, and cancer (no. 188)
• Infection and inflammation, I & I. (no. 130)
• Macrophages (no. 193)

The programme includes three annual three-hour meetings where several key activities take place to support and assess the progress of the PhD student. During this meeting, each PhD student has the opportunity to present their research project (spanning from protocol drafts to final draft of papers), sharing their findings and methodologies with both peers and senior researchers.

In addition to presenting their own projects, PhD students have to evaluate the writen products of two fellow PhD candidates. This exercise fosters a critical understanding of research design and methodology, encouraging constructive feedback and dialogue among the students.

Furthermore, the meeting features a session of oral feedback, where both peers and senior researchers provide insights and critiques of the presented work. Including senior researchers in this process guarantees that the feedback is grounded in extensive experience and knowledge.

This comprehensive meeting structure enhances the academic and professional development of PhD students, promoting a culture of rigorous research, critical analysis, and collaborative learning within the programme.

Senior researchers participating
Torben Steiniche. Scientific field: The inflammatory microenvironment in malignant tumours, its impact on prognosis, and treatment.
Søren E. Degn. Scientific field: Immunology (autoimmunity, B-cell biology, adaptive immunity).
Vivi Schlünssen. Scientific field: Environmental exposures, inflammation, and health effects
Joanna Kalucka. Scientific field: Vascular biology, vascular inflammation, cancer research, diabetes
Thomas Vorup-Jensen. Scientific field: Immunology and inflammation

The Inflammation Network provides two to four annual seminars on various aspects of inflammation, offering participants a strategic opportunity to stay updated with the latest developments, expand their professional network, and contribute to the progression of inflammation research. The LightRail Symposiums are not yet planned in detail for 2025.

In 2024, the Inflammation network is responsible for four LightRail Symposiums: “Neuroimmunological and infectious diseases in the brain – clinical spectrum and disease mechanisms”; “Friend or foe: The connection between inflammation and cancer”; “Measuring Inflammation in Health and Disease”, and “Kidney Inflammation: Insights, Challenges and Therapeutic Approaches”.

For more information about the 2024 LightRail Symposiums related to inflammation please see here.

The focus group "MultiOMICs" is a bi-monthly seminar open for PhD students where researchers from the Health division present and discuss their findings utilizing OMICs technologies.

Contact person: Joanna Maria Kalucka, joanna.kalucka@biomed.au.dk 

The programme is integrated into the Inflammation Network at Aarhus University, with members having an obligation to contribute and provide support.

Head of the subject-specific programme:

Torben Steiniche, clinical professor in pathology at Aarhus University and a member of the Steering Commitee for the Inflammation Network. His research focuses on the inflammatory microenvironment in malignant tumours, its impact on prognosis, and treatment. Torben Steiniche is skilled in managing research projects.

Co-head of the subject-specific programme:

Vivi Schlünssen, professor and Deputy Head of Department for Research and Talent at the Department of Public Health, Aarhus University. Vivi Schlünssen is also a Steering Commitee member of the Inflammation Network and specialises in environmental risk factors for inflammation. She has led the development of pre- and postgraduate research-based courses.