Course description

The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine is a leading UK institute for teaching tropical medicine, and the only one hosting a Venom Research Unit with a herpetarium housing more venomous snake species than any other research establishment in Europe, mainly spitting cobras, puff adders and carpet and saw-scaled vipers because of their significance in envenoming. More details of the Unit and their work can be found here - Alistair Reid Venom Unit and the EchiTab Study Group. This 2 week course aims to provide you with in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of key topics in relation to snakebite - a neglected disease of the rural poor in Africa and Asia. It will describe the disease burden and risk groups that make snakebite such a neglected disease and what attempts are being made to increase the global recognition of snakebite as a public health concern in the tropics. The course will also illustrate how a fuller understanding of snakebite pathology, treatment and epidemiology can be gained from studies on molecular, biochemical and immunological aspects of snake venoms and venomous snakes. The content is designed to appeal to students from diverse academic backgrounds (e.g. biology, public health, medicine and veterinary medicine).

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Suitability - Who should attend?

This course is designed to appeal to people from diverse backgrounds, e.g. biology, public health, medicine and veterinary medicine. Please note that there is a laboratory aspect to this course and that suitable experience would be required. Please contact us about your interest to discuss further if this would be suitable for you. Proof of English to IELTS 6.5

Outcome / Qualification etc.

Upon successful completion of this programme, delegates will be able to:

Conduct an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay in the laboratory and correctly interpret the results
Discuss critically the major issues that categorise snakebite as a Neglected Tropical Disease
Demonstrate detailed in-depth knowledge and understanding of the clinical treatment and epidemiology of snakebite and the basic biology of venomous snakes
Explain how an understanding of molecular, biochemical and immunological aspects of snake venom and venomous snakes relate to, and inform our knowledge of, the biology, epidemiology, pathology and treatment of snakebite