From campus to career: Developing your students’ skills and understanding in clinical immunology

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Ilyssa Alagon

July 17, 2025

As a cornerstone of biomedical science, immunology provides critical insight into the body’s complex responses to infection, injury and disease. Its clinical applications are vast and integral to modern diagnostics and treatments for autoimmune diseases, allergies, cancer immunotherapy, and infectious diseases.

Clinical immunology is the study of immunopathological conditions and abnormal immune function and demands integration of theoretical knowledge with practical laboratory skills. Detailed knowledge of fundamental principles, such as antigen-antibody interaction, are crucial in understanding the function and measurement of effectors of the immune response. Students will study the causes and consequences of abnormal immune function, neoplastic diseases and transplantation reactions together with their detection, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring in the clinical laboratory. Therefore integrating the principles and practice of immunological techniques used for screening, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of disease prophylaxis and immunotherapy is vital. Examples of key diagnostics techniques used to accurately perform tests and interpret results include ELISA, indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry.

To gain confidence in this field, students must develop both practical and critical thinking skills. This ultimately enables students to generate data and carry out analysis that can underpin definitive diagnoses, monitor disease progression and guide targeted therapeutic interventions.

Developing core immunology skills depends on creating a learning environment that encourages hands-on problem-solving, critical thinking, and a sense of curiosity. Access to high-quality, interactive resources encourages active engagement and allows students to learn from their mistakes - deepening their understanding and building confidence. These experiences are especially valuable for those aiming to pursue careers in immunology, whether through clinical placements or roles in pathology laboratories, diagnostic services, or biomedical research.

To support students, the LearnSci team has collaborated with the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) to develop a new collection of clinical immunology Smart Worksheets. These interactive resources deliver immunology-focused learning through applied, real-world contexts designed to strengthen diagnostic reasoning, enhance the interpretation of immune responses, and ultimately help students progress confidently towards professional practice.

What are the new biomedical science additions to the Smart Worksheet Library?

The new Smart Worksheets have been designed to support the next generation of students who aspire to work in biomedical fields. These new Smart Worksheets offer a unique learning experience by providing students with immediate, personalised feedback while promoting independent, self-directed practice.

What are the new clinical immunology Smart Worksheets?

Clinical immunology is one of the six key clinical specialism areas found in IBMS-accredited BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science programmes, aligned to the QAA Subject Benchmark Statement. Here at LearnSci, we have developed two new Smart Worksheets to complement your clinical immunology syllabus.

These include:

Autoimmune disease and diagnosis
Internal quality control and systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosis

Why and how do our new resources align with IBMS requirements?

The clinical specialism Smart Worksheets have been co-designed in collaboration with subject matter experts from IBMS-accredited programmes and practicing HCPC-registered biomedical scientists. By working closely with a diverse group of academics and professionals, we’ve ensured that the content is not only accurate but also aligned with current diagnostic practices, data interpretation, and real-world laboratory procedures.

Each worksheet has undergone a thorough quality assurance process, including input from student reviewers and external academic colleagues from IBMS-accredited programmes and the Executive Head of Education at the IBMS. This rigorous review ensures that the content is relevant, reliable, and ready to support high-quality biomedical science education.

Are these resources right for your university?

If your university delivers an IBMS-accredited BSc Biomedical Science programme, these resources have been created with you - and your students - in mind. However, these Smart Worksheets are highly relevant across a wide range of degree programmes, and are mapped to key clinical specialisms which align with academic and professional standards throughout biomedical education.

This time of year is ideal for planning ahead. Whether you're refreshing your syllabus or refining existing modules, these worksheets offer an adaptable way to enrich your teaching. They’re particularly effective for supporting formative assessment, strengthening lab-based learning, and encouraging independent study.

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Discover how LearnSci’s interactive tools are transforming science education; explore the Smart Worksheet Library for yourself or request a personalised demo from our team.

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