Liver Transplants: The Ins and Outs - MOOC

Program Overview

This three-week MOOC from the University of Birmingham explores liver transplantation from early experiments to advancements in organ preservation and the science behind the operation. It examines the ethics and demand for organ donation and features interviews with experts and patients sharing their experiences. Suitable for individuals interested in human biology, transplantation, and the immune system.

Program Outline

Outline:

• Course Duration: Three weeks
• Course Content:
• History of liver transplantation, from early experiments to modern advancements in organ preservation.
• Science behind the liver transplant operation and the drugs used to prevent organ rejection.
• Unique biology of the liver, including how one donor organ can help two patients and how some people can eventually manage without anti-rejection medication.
• Interviews with surgeons, clinical staff, liver transplant coordinators, and patients about their experiences.
• Major Issues Explored:
• How a liver can be transplanted from one person to another and survive.
• Ethics of organ donation and organ allocation.

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods: Interactive web-based platform.
• Faculty:
• Trish Lalor: Senior Lecturer and research scientist in the Centre for Liver Research.
• Zania Stamataki: Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow in the Centre for Liver Research.

Other:

• Target Audience: Anyone interested in human biology, transplantation, surgery, or the immune system.
• Course Delivery: Delivered by the University of Birmingham in partnership with FutureLearn.
• Course Type: Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)
• Course Access: Free and open to learners worldwide.
• Course Credits: Does not offer credits towards admission to the University of Birmingham.