Category Archives: NDPIA

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Summary of AI Applications in Infection Biology course 2024

May 27, 2024 Louise Lindbäck

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 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.”

-Anonymous participant

To see the full course program, please visit:  AI Applications in Infection Biology Course 2024 | NDPIA

Many thanks to the organizing committee:

Debra Milton, Umeå University, NDPIA National Director

Kemal Avican, Umeå University

Laura Carroll, Umeå University

Jenny Persson, Umeå University

Hanna Eriksson, Umeå University, NDPIA Project Administrator

NDPIA, News

A free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) “Vaccinology” from Institut Pasteur Paris

May 14, 2024 Hanna Eriksson

The free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) “Vaccinology” from Institut Pasteur Paris starts soon !

How has vaccinology evolved in recent years? What are the different steps in vaccine development? How vaccines can be made accessible to the population worldwide?

If you are interested to find out more from several experts in the field, do not hesitate and sign up for this new version of the MOOC here!

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

Summarize the basics of vaccinology.
Define vaccine design and the clinical steps required to develop a vaccine.
Describe recent vaccines that have been developed.
Discuss how to improve vaccine coverage for available vaccines.
Explain the challenges ahead learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The MOOC will run from from May 14th until July 10th, 2024. It is recorded in English, with French and English subtitles. Once registered, you can follow it at your own pace and still watch the videos after the end of the broadcasting. Registration is completely free, with an option to take a short exam and receive a certificate for a small fee. This course is also part of the Institut Pasteur Online Diploma of Infectious Diseases (DNM2IP).

You can find more details about the MOOC and the registration link here.

NDPIA, News

Vaccine to Vaccination: from Science to Society

April 29, 2024 Hanna Eriksson

We would like to invite you to the course “Vaccine to Vaccination: from Science to Society”, organized together with the International Vaccine Institute .

Established in 2000, IVI’s International Vaccinology Course (IVC) is one of the longest-running vaccinology courses in Asia, and since 2023 it has been run in collaboration with the Karolinska Institute. This year we count with a third location in Kigali, Rwanda adding to our collective goal of providing a global perspective on the impact of vaccine development.

Through lectures from renown international experts, quizzes and case studies the attendants will learn the basics of vaccinology and the process of creating vaccines: how they are developed, tested, regulated, and approved.

The course will run 2-6 September 2024 and will take place at ANA Futura on campus Huddinge (Stockholm Area). Lectures will be given at the three locations (Seoul, Kigali, and Stockholm) and broadcasted simultaneously. Since this course is co-organized by KI, PhD students and postdocs have a unique opportunity to participate on this international course and get a global perspective on vaccine development and its societal implications.

https://doctoralcourses.application.ki.se/fubasextern/info?kurs=H7F6000

Application closes on May 6th.

For more information: check the official website of the course and if you have any questions please contact Laura Palma Medina

We look forward to your participation.

Best Regards,

The IVI course organizers

NDPIA, News

New Virology course at Smögens Havsbad in August!

April 24, 2024 Hanna Eriksson

The course Molecular Virology and Pathogenesis organized by Johan Nordgren at Linköping University and Linn Persson Berg at University of Gothenburg will be held at Smögens Havsbad 19-21 August 2024 and NDPIA members are invited!

The aim of the course is to provide a broad and in-depth knowledge in the field of Molecular virology, with a special focus on pathogenesis. Senior Swedish and international researchers will give lectures and lead discussions on important virus families and the diseases they cause.

Read more and register →

NDPIA, Past courses and activities

Summary of Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance course 2024

April 22, 2024 Louise Lindbäck

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 modern medical 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 of antibiotics, on diagnostic methods to detect known and novel resistance genes, on the origins of resistance genes and the biological cost of resistance for the microbe, and on new 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