(599f) Immunoengineering As an Upper-Level Elective for Engineering Pre-Med Students

One of the primary challenges in integrating a pre-medical track within a Chemical Engineering program lies in designing a curriculum that both aligns with the rigorous core requirements of chemical engineering and adequately prepares students for successful admission to and performance in medical school. Students who pursue the pre-medical pathway within a chemical engineering department typically fall into one of three categories: (1) those who are undecided between careers in engineering and medicine and wish to explore both fields before making a commitment; (2) those who are drawn to the analytical and quantitative problem-solving approaches inherent in engineering, and believe that the technical and computational skills developed in this discipline will offer a competitive advantage in medical training and practice; and (3) those aspiring to dual-degree MD/PhD programs, aiming to contribute both as research scientists and clinical practitioners. The design of such an interdisciplinary training pathway necessitates considerations that extend beyond the traditional scope of undergraduate chemical engineering education. It must also address the comprehensive academic and experiential requirements for medical school preparation and admission. A particular challenge arises in the identification and development of upper-level elective courses that simultaneously satisfy departmental technical elective criteria and provide a solid foundation in biomedical sciences. Crafting these electives requires deliberate curricular innovation to ensure students are not only meeting graduation requirements, but also acquiring the competencies necessary for success in medical school and beyond. Here, the strategy to develop a course on Immunoengineering will be described. The course stretches over several fundamental and multidisciplinary topics including: 1) cells of the immune system, 2) innate immune system, 3) adaptive immune system, and 4) literature presentations to discuss cutting edge research pursued by chemical and biological engineers in the field of immunology to circumvent pharmacology related problems.

Immunoengineering is offered as a one semester upper-level (senior/graduate-level) course at Notre Dame, so that both graduate students, who find it complementary to their PhD studies, and the pre-med undergraduate students can benefit from it. As for the prerequisites, typically, one basic biology course, biochemistry, and one more higher level biology course with an emphasis on cellular systems is adequate. The course is divided into 3 major modules where each covers a critical fundamental component of immunology followed by a relevant literature example of how engineers approach Immunoengineering and in designing solutions to issues relating to human health. The assessment of the students involves homework assignments, exams, literature presentations, and a final term project where the students work on teams on a topic of their interest.

This presentation outlines the development of an Immunoengineering course within a Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, designed to fulfill the technical elective requirements of the engineering curriculum while simultaneously equipping pre-medical students with a foundational understanding of immunology to support their success in medical school. The course has demonstrated significant value not only for pre-medical students, but also for those pursuing careers in the pharmaceutical industry, medical device sector, healthcare-focused consulting firms, and for students planning to undertake doctoral studies in biologically oriented engineering disciplines. Since its initial offering eight years ago, the course has consistently received highly positive feedback. Particularly notable are the unsolicited testimonials from alumni currently enrolled in medical or graduate programs, who have expressed their appreciation for the course’s relevance and impact on their advanced studies. These endorsements highlight the course’s effectiveness in bridging engineering education with biomedical applications and underscore its role in preparing students for diverse professional trajectories at the interface of engineering and medicine.