Advanced course on immunology, vaccinology and biotechnology applied to infectious diseases

Call for applications: Advanced course on immunology, vaccinology and
biotechnology applied to infectious diseases

*From 10 September to 24 October 200**8*

*To apply, please download and complete the Fellowship Application Form: WHO
52.1
<http://www.who.int/tdr/grants/grants/files/faf_form_52_1.doc>*

This Course will be held at the WHO Immunology Research and Training Centre,
Lausanne, Switzerland. It will be organized specifically for *English-speaking
* candidates from developing countries, through a donation from the *Government
of Switzerland (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation [SDC])*.

* A. Programme*

The Course will be conducted in English. The first part will be devoted to
the recent advances in the areas of basic immunology and molecular biology.
Teaching modules will be structured to deal with the specific problems
related to bacterial, parasitic and viral infections of public health
importance. One module will be specifically devoted to the development of
new vaccines and the testing of their efficacy.

Practical sessions will be organized during which participants will perform
techniques related to the: a) evaluation of the humoral and cellular immune
response to infectious agents, and b) identification of micro-organisms in
biological samples by nucleic acid hybridization.

*B. Extended research training*

There will be an opportunity for *one* participant to stay at the Centre for
a period of up to four months after the Course for further specialized
training. It is mandatory that, those interested in this possibility
mention it in their initial application to their Government and explain in
detail their motivation in the letter to Dr Pascal
Launois<http://www.who.int/tdr/topmenu/staff/launois.htm>
.

*C. Selection criteria*

Candidates should fulfil the following requirements:

- have an excellent knowledge of English;
- university degree: doctorate of medicine, or M.Sc or Ph.D in
microbiology or other biological sciences;
- be actively engaged in teaching, research or national public health
services;
- be under 40 years of age.

*D. How to apply*

Scientists interested in participating in the Course * should immediately
apply to the health authority of their Government and complete a Fellowship
Application Form (WHO
52.1)<http://www.who.int/tdr/grants/grants/files/faf_form_52_1.doc>which
can also be obtained from the WHO Representative's Office in their
country or from the Ministry of Health*.

This form should be submitted for approval to the Government, who will then
forward the nominations to the World Health Organization, Geneva, through
the relevant WHO Regional Office. * Only candidates nominated by their
Governments and who can attend the entire Course* will be taken into
consideration.

*In addition*, candidates should send details of their scientific work with
a copy of the WHO 52.1
form<http://www.who.int/tdr/grants/grants/files/faf_form_52_1.doc>and
explain their interest in the Course in a letter to:

Ms Najoua Kachouri
UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO
Special Programme for Research and Training
in Tropical Diseases (TDR)
WHO
20 Avenue Appia
CH-1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland

Fax : 41-22 791 4854
E-mail: kachourin@who.int

or to

Dr Pascal Launois <http://www.who.int/tdr/topmenu/staff/launois.htm>
UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO
Special Programme for Research and Training
in Tropical Diseases (TDR)
WHO
20 Avenue Appia
CH-1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland

Fax : 41-22 791 4854
E-mail: launoisp@who.int


This letter, * which is mandatory*, should also * indicate that an official
application has been made through the appropriate Government channels. *

Only selected candidates will be contacted (where possible, by E-mail or FAX
if a number is given in the application) to inform them of their selection.
They will receive air tickets for their travel to Switzerland and a
fellowship allowance for the duration of the Course and, where applicable,
for extended research training period.

*Deadline for receipt of applications: 30 April** 2008*