What is immunology?

Immunology is the study of the immune system. It is a very important part of the medical and biological sciences. Several lines of defence in the immune system keep us from getting sick. When the immune system doesn’t work right, it can cause diseases like autoimmunity, allergies, and cancer. It’s also becoming clear that immune responses play a role in the development of many common diseases that haven’t traditionally been thought of as immune-related, such as metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Why is immunology important?

From Edward Jenner’s early work in the 18th century, which led to modern vaccination (which has probably saved more lives than any other medical advance), to the many scientific breakthroughs in the 19th and 20th centuries, which led to, among other things, safe organ transplantation, the identification of blood groups, and the widespread use of monoclonal antibodies in science and healthcare, immunology has made a lot of important contributions to science and medicine. Immunological research continues to help us learn more about how to treat serious health problems. For example, researchers are still looking into immunotherapy, autoimmune diseases, and vaccines for new pathogens like Ebola. Improving our understanding of basic immunology is important for clinical and business use, and it has helped us find new ways to diagnose and treat a wide range of diseases. In addition to these things, immunological research has led to the development of very important research tools and techniques, such as flow cytometry and antibody technology, which have been made possible by advances in technology.

What is an immunologist?

A scientist or doctor who specialises in immunology is called an immunologist. Many immunologists do research in a lab, either for a university or a private company (e.g. in the pharmaceutical industry). Other immunologists, called “clinical immunologists,” are doctors who focus on diagnosing and treating immune system diseases like allergies and autoimmune diseases.