The Medical Laboratory Sciences Unit is involved in the training of Medical Laboratory Scientists who are involved in carrying out laboratory diagnosis of various diseases. The 4 year undergraduate medical laboratory sciences degree programme produces highly trained and yet flexible medical laboratory scientists who are skilled professionals who perform laboratory tests using high-tech equipment and methods.

The Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Sciences Honours Degree programme is an interdisciplinary programme that covers all the medical laboratory sciences courses (Biochemistry, Blood Transfusion & Immunology, Haematology, Histology and Microbiology). In addition, the curriculum includes courses in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Biostatistics and Research Methods, and Laboratory management Systems. The aim of the program is to produce highly trained and yet flexible medical laboratory scientists, with excellent career opportunities.

Undergraduate Course Content

MBChB/BDS Part III

Physiology of the Immune system

•             Overview of Immunology
•             Cells of the immune System
•             Innate immunity
•             Acquired/ Adaptive immunity
•             Antigen Presentation
•             Complement System Regulation and Disorders
•             Immune Deficiency

Immunogenetics

•             Genetics of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)
•             Genetics of Antibody Diversity
•             B and T cell Receptor Complexes
•             Transplantation

Infection and Tumor Immunity

•             Viral Infections
•             Bacterial infections
•             Immune Responses to TB
•             Parasitic and Helminthic infections
•             Immune Responses to Tumours
•             Lymphoproliferative diseases
•             Vaccines
•             Immunopathogenesis of HIV

Autoimmunity

•             Rheumatoid Arthritis
•             Systematic Lupus Erythematosus
•             Multiple Sclerosis
•             Graves` Disease
•             Autoimmune Thyroiditis
•             Myasthenia Gravis
•             Vasculitis

Clinical Immunology and Diagnostics

•             Gastroenterology
•             Liver diseases
•             Allergy and other hypersensitivities
•             Kidney diseases
•             Haematological diseases
•             Skin diseases
•             Neuroimmunological diseases
•             Eye diseases
•             Cardiovascular diseases
•             Tuberculosis
•             Malaria
•             Nutrition
•             Pregnancy
•             Techniques in Clinical Immunology.

The Unit was established as a fully-fledged Department in 1996 following several years of it being run as a unit under the Department of Chemical Pathology. Immunology is one of the five disciplines of Pathology, taught to the Medical (MBChB) Dental (BDS) Part III undergraduate students as well as postgraduate students in Clinical Chemistry and Masters in Medicine, at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe. The major activities of the Department are teaching, research, including supervision of postgraduate students and service.