For who? Our MOOCs are aimed at people with a scientific background equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in life sciences
Format : Each MOOC is made up of 30 video lectures of 10 minutes, focusing on key messages, recorded with international experts. Students can test their knowledge with quizzes.
Price : All content is available free of charge (videos, quizzes). There is the possibility to obtain a certificate for a fee.
When ? : Once registered you have unlimited access to our resources, not all MOOCs are open at the same time (see calendar).
In what Language? In English, with French and English subtitles
How to register ? create your account on the FUN platform
In May 2024, NDPIA offered a newly developed course on AI applications in infection biology. This course was held on 20-24 May at Rånäs Slott, Rånäs.
“The aim of this course was to introduce infection biologists to the often abstract and overwhelming idea of using AI in their research. By offering concrete examples of how to implement these tools, students gain confidence to apply these approaches in their own research projects.”
-Debra Milton, NDPIA National Director
Group photo of the participants and organizers of AI applications in infection biology 2024. The photo was taken by personnel at Rånäs Slott.
With the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), powerful tools are now available to analyze and to interpret complex biological data to enhance our understanding and combating of infectious diseases. We had eleven national and international experts in the field to introduce participants to AI methods used to predict disease outbreaks, to predict antibiotic resistance of pathogens, to survey pathogens and antibiotic resistance in the environment, to decipher host-pathogen interactions, to aid the development of new antimicrobials and to use AI responsibly.
“This was a fantastic course. Very useful and helpful to get such a thorough insight into this repidly developing field, and getting to know people active in it. I would highly recommend this course!”
-Anonymous participant
Lecture on “Clinical antimicrobial resistance prediction using machine learning”, given by Caroline Weis, Senior AI/ML Engineer and team leader for Clinical AI at GSK, Zurich. Photo: Hanna Eriksson.Lecture on “Responsible AI and future challenges”, given by Juan Carlos Nieves Sanchez, associate professor at Umeå University. Photo: Louise Lindbäck.
Integrating knowledge from multiple disciplines will be necessary to address many questions within infection biology. However, taking the first step to implement these tools in research projects can be daunting. Therefore, we also included three workshops in this course with concrete examples which was much appreciated by the students. The workshops were focused on the AlphaFold AI system, SIAMCAT metagenomic data analysis and scientific automation.
We aim to initiate discussions and collaborations across these disciplines, and the beautiful scenery of this venue ensured a relaxed atmosphere and many networking opportunities. The weather allowed poster sessions to be held both outdoors and indoors, with lively discussions also during break times. In addition, students and lecturers were engaged in several social activities including different games and utilizing the sauna and pools by the lake.
“Overall, the lecturers were very inclusive and interested in questions and discussions. Much appreciated!”
-Anonymous participant
Workshop session on automated science, given by Paul Jensen, assistant professor at the University of Michigan, and Mark Hendricks, assistant professor at the Whitman College, Washington. Photo: Louise Lindbäck.Students were presenting and discussing their work during poster sessions. Photo: Hanna Eriksson.Students were presenting and discussing their work during poster sessions. Photo: Hanna Eriksson.Students and lecturers taking part of course dinner. Photo: Hanna Eriksson.Students participating in social evening activities. Photo: Louise Lindbäck.
“Very nice structure of the course! I could on the later course days understand things thanks to the previous days lectures, which had not made sense to me otherwise. So a nice escalation through the course, which made it very useful.”
The third NDPIA course on antibiotics and antibiotic resistance was held at Stora Brännbo in Sigtuna during 15-19 of April 2024.
Antibiotic resistance is a global public health concern that threatens the use of modernmedical therapies to fight infectious diseases. This course introduces antibiotic resistance from a microbial perspective and from a clinical – One Health perspective. We had 18 national and international experts within the field giving an up-to-date overview on the modes of action of antibiotics and how microbes resist the effects ofantibiotics, on diagnostic methods to detect known and novel resistance genes, on theorigins of resistance genes and the biological cost of resistance for the microbe, and onnew antibiotic development and alternative therapeutics for infectious disease.
“The range of topics in this course was great, and really helped me to get a comprehensive understanding on all the aspects of AMR (antimicrobial resistance).”
-Anonymous participant
Group photo of the participants and organizers of Antibiotic and Antibiotic Resistance 2024. The photo was taken by personnel at Stora Brännbo.Lecture on “Resistance from a microbe perspective”, given by Diarmaid Hughes, professor at Uppsala University. Photo: Hanna Eriksson.
In addition, the effects of human behaviour on antibiotic resistance management and methods to communicate awareness and understanding of antibiotic resistance was also discussed. The lectures were combined with three poster sessions enabling the participants to discuss their own research with fellows and lecturers.
“The strength of this course is the diverse research focus of lecturers and participants! Combining great lecturers and interesting topics in an informal setting really fostered open communication and sharing of ideas.”
-Anonymous participant
Students were presenting and discussing their work during poster sessions. Photo: Hanna Eriksson.Students were presenting and discussing their work during poster sessions. Photo: Hanna Eriksson.
The tenth National Infection Biology and Swedish Microbiology Meeting 2023 was held at Aronsborgs Konferenshotell in Bålstad during 23-24 October 2023. The meeting was co-organized by the National Doctoral Programme in Infections and Antibiotics (NDPIA; www.ndpia.se) and the Swedish Society for Microbiology (SFM; www.mikrobiologi.net/sfm) with the aims to enhance cross-disciplinary research in Sweden within the fields of infection biology and microbiology as well as to strengthen the Swedish network of scientists within these fields.
Microorganisms are found nearly everywhere, and their versatile activities greatly impact our health and the environment, both positively and negatively. Microbiology research, now an integrative science, is vital for addressing certain global ambitions and challenges, such as disease prevention and treatment, maintaining our health, and protecting our food and water.
Currentstate-of-the-art microbiology research in Sweden will be presented by invited speakerswithin the sub-disciplines of bacteriology, virology, eukaryotic microbiology, host response,and environmental microbiology. In addition, 16 oral presentations have been selectedfrom the poster abstract submissions and poster walks are organized allowing participantsto present and discuss their work with other participants.
Welcome introduction given by Debra Milton, professor at Umeå University and National director of NDPIA. Photo: Hanna Eriksson.Welcome introduction given by Kristina Jonas, professor at Stockholm University and board member of SFM. Photo: Hanna Eriksson.Group photo of the participants and organizers of the tenth National Infection Biology and Swedish Microbiology Meeting 2023. Photo: Hanna Eriksson.Online lecture on “Mucosal immunity to influenza virus infection”, given by Davide Angeletti, associate professor at University of Gothenburg. Photo: Hanna Eriksson.Students were presenting and discussing their work during poster sessions. Photo: Hanna Eriksson.
Many thanks to the organizing committee
Debra Milton, Umeå University, National Director for NDPIA
Keira Melican, Karolinska Institutet, SFM
Oliver Billker, Umeå University, Director of MIMS
Carl-Fredrik Flach, University of Gothenburg, NDPIA
Edmund Loh, Karolinska Institutet, NDPIA
Helen Wang, Uppsala University, NDPIA, SFM
Pontus Nordenfelt, Lund University, NDPIA
Hanna Eriksson, NDPIA Project Administrator, Umeå University
This new NDPIA course on fundamentals of basic and applied phage biology was held at Lund University during 23-28 of April 2023.
Bacteriophages are bacterial viruses and the most diverse and abundant of all organisms on Earth. Through their coexistence with bacteria, phages modify bacterial communities by altering bacterial numbers, physiology, diversity, and virulence. This NDPIA course introduced students to the intriguing but complex interactions between phages and bacteria.
We had eleven national and international experts in phage research presenting a comprehensive theoretical overview of fundamental and applied phage biology, covering topics such as phage diversity and classification, phage diversity in environments from the human gut to the ocean, ecological roles of phages, phage-bacteria interactions and anti-phage immunity systems, and development of phage-based treatments of bacterial infections.
“I really appreciated the networking opportunities during this course. It was very nice that lecturers joined the dinners, and the overall social atmosphere led to open and vivid discussions.”
-Anonymous participant
Group photo of the participants and organizers of the Fundamentals of Basic and Applied Phage Biology 2023. Photo: Frederik Henriksen.
The lectures were complemented with hands-on experimental phage techniques. Techniques performed by the students included phage isolation from environmental samples, determination of the phage titre, performing phage infectivity/immunity assays, and isolation of spontaneous mutant phages through selection.
“The combination of covering vast amounts of knowledge both basic, cutting edge and applied, along with conducting real research during lab exercises all meant that the course was insanely productive while also being fun!”
-Anonymous participant
Students preparing for collection of environmental samples around town to be used in the lab exercises. Photo: Gemma AtkinsonStudents were collecting environmental samples at the Botanical Garden to be used in the lab exercises. Photo: Gemma Atkinson.
Students were performing lab work at Lund University to isolate phages and escape mutants. Photo: Vasili Hauryliuk and Rodrigo Ibarra Chaves.
