Introduction to the immune system and its role in maintaining health and fighting diseases. Components of the immune system: innate and adaptive immunity. Functions of the immune system: recognition, elimination, and memory. Regulation of the immune response: homeostasis and immune tolerance.

Early attempts at immunotherapy: Jenner's smallpox vaccine and Behring's diphtheria antitoxin. Development of passive and active immunotherapies. Milestones in the history of immunotherapy: discovery of antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, and checkpoint inhibitors.

Introduction to monoclonal antibodies and their production. Applications of monoclonal antibodies in immunotherapy: diagnosis, imaging, and treatment. Mechanisms of action: neutralization, agonism, and antagonism. Case studies: Herceptin for breast cancer and Rituxan for lymphoma.

Introduction to checkpoints and their role in regulating the immune response. Mechanisms of action: CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1. Applications of checkpoint inhibitors in cancer immunotherapy. Case studies: Keytruda for melanoma and Opdivo for lung cancer.

Introduction to cellular therapies: stem cells, T cells, and NK cells. Applications of cellular therapies in immunotherapy: gene therapy, CAR T-cell therapy, and NK cell therapy. Mechanisms of action: recognition, elimination, and persistence. Case studies: Kymriah for leukemia and Yescarta for lymphoma.

Ethical considerations in immunotherapy: access, affordability, and informed consent. Current challenges and future directions: combination therapies, personalized medicine, and immunotherapy for infectious diseases. Collaborative projects: designing a hypothetical immunotherapeutic agent and presenting findings to the class.