Workforce, training and education
East of England
Welcome to Clinical Immunology

Clinical Immunology in the East of England

 

Immunology is a clinical and laboratory specialty concerned with the diagnosis and management of patients with diseases of the immune system. 
The specialty is still in a phase of expansion and is unique in that it is underpinned by a knowledge base of fundamental immunology arising from research carried out in biomedical institutes throughout the world. This fundamental Immunology provides a constant stream of new knowledge from which novel diagnostic tests and therapies eventually emerge for use in clinical practice. 

 

Work patterns and clinical responsibilities of career grade immunologists

Immunopathologists spend about half their time running immunology laboratories in teaching hospital. On average one third of their time is spent looking after patients with immunological diseases usually in out patient or day case sessions and the remainder of their time on clinical research and development. 

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Immunologists medically direct regional reference laboratories and may have some supervisory responsibilities for smaller satellite immunology laboratories in district general hospitals in the same region as the teaching hospital. Much of their time is spent giving advice to other clinicians and GPs about the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of patients with immunological diseases and interpreting the results of tests carried out in the reference laboratory. Immunologists often deal with complex cases, which need to be well worked up and require in-depth knowledge of the principles of Immunology. 

In out patient clinics immunologists see their own patients with a range of immunity deficiency, autoimmune and allergic diseases. Many patients have chronic relapsing diseases, which require long-term follow up and laboratory monitoring. There are exciting opportunities to use novel immuno-modulatory therapies, for example, monoclonal anti-cytokine or anti-cytokine receptor antibodies and other targeted immunosuppressive agents in clinical trials. 

Continuous life-long learning is one of the most stimulating aspects of a career in Immunology. Trainees and consultants are expected to attend Royal College of Pathologists and Royal Society of Medicine symposia and conferences, to attend supraregional clinical audit and patient-centred meetings and are encouraged to travel to international immunological meetings. This contact with the latest developments in fundamental and clinically applied immunology enables immunologists to develop their own special areas of research and clinical expertise.

 

Training Programme
Essential Qualifications for Entry
Personal Qualities
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Monday7October2019
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