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Unit of study_

SURG5021: Surgical Immunology

Semester 1, 2020 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Inflammation and immunopathology are encountered frequently in surgical practice, in settings such as acute pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease and rejection of organ transplants. Manipulation of the immune system through treatment with checkpoint inhibitors and other forms of immunotherapy is assuming increasing importance in the treatment of malignant melanoma and various other cancers. This unit of study will introduce students to the fundamental aspects of innate and cognate immune responses and their relationship to the clinical manifestations of some common surgical conditions.

Unit details and rules

Unit code SURG5021
Academic unit Surgery
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Alexandra Sharland, alexandra.sharland@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Jerome Laurence, jerome.laurence@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam Final Exam
Online exam
40% Formal exam period 1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Online task Peerwise
Online task
25% Multiple weeks Ongoing
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Online task Discussions
Forum post
25% Multiple weeks Various
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Online task Module Quizzes
MCQs, EMQs
10% Multiple weeks 40 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7

Assessment summary

  • Quizzes: Each module includes a graded quiz comprising multiple choice and/or extended matching questions. These quizzes are designed to provide you with feedback on your learning and highlight gaps in your knowledge. Quizzes are timed for 40 minutes and can only be attempted once.
  • PeerWise: PeerWise allows students to author their own multiple choice questions related to the content they have been covering. Peers can then answer your questions and provide critique or comments for improvement. All comments should be based upon relevant literature, with the use of references as much as possible, and submitted via PeerWise assignment page.
  • Case discussions: You will be provided with three clinical cases and are required to answer the questions posed for each and comment on the posts of your peers where directed. Your answer should be based upon your understanding of the case and on the relevant literature. Your work should be referenced by key citations sourced from current medical literature. Discussion is encouraged.
  • Final exam: The final exam is a graded, fully invigilated exam conducted via Canvas with the help of an online proctor. The exam will contain multiple choice and/or extended matching questions. The final exam will be timed for 90 minutes.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Please note, for this unit of study (SURG5021) the late submission penalty will be 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date for 5 calendar days only. This is to ensure that timely feedback is provided to students. If the assessment is submitted more than 5 calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 MODULE 1 – Introduction to Immunology Online class (10 hr)  
Week 02 MODULE 1 – Introduction to Immunology Online class (10 hr)  
Week 03 MODULE 1 – Introduction to Immunology Online class (10 hr)  
Week 04 MODULE 2 – Inflammation Online class (10 hr)  
Week 05 MODULE 2 – Inflammation Online class (10 hr)  
Week 06 MODULE 3 – Cancer Immunology Online class (10 hr)  
Week 07 MODULE 3 – Cancer Immunology Online class (10 hr)  
Week 08 MODULE 4 – The immunological basis of transplant rejection Online class (10 hr)  
Week 09 MODULE 4 – The immunological basis of transplant rejection Online class (10 hr)  
Week 10 MODULE 5 – The immunology of organ donation Online class (10 hr)  
Week 11 MODULE 5 – The immunology of organ donation Online class (10 hr)  
Week 12 MODULE 6 – Transplant Tolerance Online class (10 hr)  
Week 13 MODULE 6 – Transplant Tolerance Online class (10 hr)  

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Describe the components of the innate and adaptive immune systems and how their activities contribute to the pathogenesis of conditions including acute pancreatitis, necrotising fasciitis, ulcerative colitis, ischaemia-reperfusion injury and transplant rejection.
  • LO2. Assess the evidence for the efficacy of various surgical and medical interventions in the management of conditions including acute pancreatitis, necrotising fasciitis, and ulcerative colitis.
  • LO3. Identify the ways in which cancer suppresses the immune system and the types of cancer immunotherapy which specifically target these.
  • LO4. Analyse the evidence supporting the use of cancer immunotherapy for the treatment of solid tumours.
  • LO5. Analyse the relative contributions of innate and adaptive immunity to organ damage following transplantation.
  • LO6. Compare and contrast transplant immunosuppression with the induction of immunological tolerance to transplanted organs.
  • LO7. Discuss the usefulness of biomarkers and other tests in monitoring post-transplant immune responses and individualising treatment.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

We value your feedback about any aspect of the unit of study and your experience as a student of Sydney Medical School. To help ensure our courses meet your needs and maintain a high standard, we welcome your feedback at any time and we ask you to complete the Mid-Semester Evaluation Survey and the unit of study Evaluation Survey at the end of the semester. You can also rate any component of the unit using our star rating system found at the bottom of many pages as you progress through the unit. Your ratings and comments are anonymous and specifying what you liked and didn’t like about any of the learning materials, assessment items, discussion forums, feedback etc will help us to target our improvement efforts. Please note that your participation in this unit of study permits de-identified information about your learning experience and interaction with learning resources to be used for the purpose of improving the student learning experience.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.