Allergy, Clinical and Laboratory Immunology (ACLI) is both a clinical and laboratory-based speciality which consists of a 5 year training programme. This commences with entry at ST3 level after Core Medical Training is completed and having achieved MRCP or equivalent.
There are two posts in ACLI within the NHSE Thames Valley programme.
During their first year 3 months of training usually takes place in the diagnostic Immunology Laboratory, located at the Churchill Hospital, where trainees will spend time covering the main areas of the lab. These include immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow cytometry and neuroimmunology. The Churchill Immunology laboratory is a leading diagnostic laboratory in neuroimmunology and performs a number of specialist neuroimmunology tests for the whole of the U.K.
After completion of the laboratory secondment, trainees will be expected to regularly authorise laboratory results. They will also participate in a number of specialist clinics. The Oxford University Hospitals Clinical Immunology department is a Centre of Excellence for Primary Immune Deficiencies and trainees will regularly cover the immune deficiency clinics and immunoglobulin therapy infusion clinics.
Other clinics in which trainees will be actively involved include allergy clinics consisting of complex severe allergy, drug allergy, venom immunotherapy desensitisation and drug/food challenges. Trainees will also gain exposure to systemic autoimmune disease and vasculitis by providing cover for the Nuffield Department of Medicine (NDM) complex connective tissue disease clinic.
There is a weekly clinical meeting held during which there is opportunity to present interesting clinical cases and discuss challenging clinical queries. A secondment to a specialist paediatric immunology centre eg Great Ormond Street Hospital and an Allergy Centre for 3 months is also encouraged.
Throughout the post, a trainee’s progress is continually assessed and annually reviewed in the form of ARCPs. At the end of year 2/3, trainees should have completed the part 1 FRCPath examination in Immunology and by year 3/4, completed the part 2 FRCPath Immunology laboratory and oral examinations. The British Society of Immunology and BSACI organise regular training days consisting of a series of lectures throughout the year covering relevant topics pertinent to the FRCPath examinations. Trainees are encouraged to attend these valuable training days which aid in the preparation for the FRCPath.
For more information on a career in Clinical Immunology please visit the BSI website:
Working life of a clinical immunologist | British Society for Immunology
The Training Programme Director is Dr Smita Patel: Smita.Patel@ouh.nhs.uk[SP1]
Essential Courses
- ALS course
- Management course- laboratory and clinical in the last year of training
- BSI/BSACI training days- trainees will be expected to attend approximately 80% of these and will be guided by training needs
Desirable Courses
One international Immunology conference- ESID
One internal Allergy conference- EACCI
ESID summer school
WAO Global Allergy Symposium
ESID Diagnostic school
Teaching course
Teaching & Research
Teaching
Weekly departmental clinical meetings and teaching sessions are held at the John Radcliffe Hospital. Regular presentations held jointly with Rheumatology, Microbiology and Paediatric Infectious Diseases. There are monthly online ESID Grand Rounds which all trainees are encouraged to attend.
www.jrcptb.org.uk
www.aaaai.org
Research
Many trainees choose to undergo a formative period of research leading to an award of DPhil at the end of year 2/3. There are a number of clinical and basic science research projects which trainees can be involved in throughout their training.
If interested in research, trainees have the opportunity to explore projects with PIs based in the University and apply for competitive fellowships.