Immunology MOOCs and AI

The immune system protects us every day, often without us even noticing. It fights viruses, bacteria, parasites and countless invisible threats. Yet the science behind this powerful defense system — immunology — can seem difficult, even inaccessible, to non-specialists. That is precisely the barrier Prof. Bruno Lemaitre set out to break with his two Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in immunology.

Developed as part of the university’s teaching program, the courses Introduction to Immunology: Fundamental Aspectsand Introduction to Immunology: Methods and Medical Applications guide learners through the complex universe of immune responses, from basic concepts to medical applications.

Used by both degree-seeking students and lifelong learners on the edX platform, these MOOCs have quickly proven their value. Teachers from other institutions regularly reach out to request permission to reuse parts of the material, a strong sign of its academic and professional relevance.

But one obstacle has limited the full reach of these courses so far: language.

“Our MOOCs are currently available entirely in French, which unfortunately restricts access for a large international audience”, explains Prof. Lemaitre.

This limitation particularly affects:

• healthcare professionals around the world,
• international students from partner universities (including the EuroTech Alliance),
• and institutions looking to integrate high-quality digital resources into their curricula.

From French to the world, thanks to AI

To overcome this barrier, a bold new project was launched: translating the entire MOOC series into English, with the help of artificial intelligence and a specialized team of experts.

The courses are known for their rich visual identity, including detailed illustrations and animations created by the Health Training and e-Training Foundation in Lausanne. Because the screen is already visually dense, subtitles were not a viable option.

Instead, several technical solutions were explored:

• traditional dubbing,
• lip-syncing,
• or the use of an animated avatar.

“After careful consideration, lip-syncing was chosen for its natural feel, clarity and immersive quality” explains Dr. Annechien Helsdingen (project manager). A short demonstration of the lip-syncing process is available here: https://mediaspace.epfl.ch/media/0_7o28pa98.

The translation itself is not left to AI alone. It is supervised and refined by bilingual specialists in life sciences, who verify scientific accuracy, correct inconsistencies and ensure perfect fidelity to the original content. A final phase of editing includes synchronizing slides, adjusting rhythm and fine-tuning the overall learning experience.

“By applying AI in a rigorous, supervised way, we can expand access to knowledge without compromising academic quality or integrity” says Patrick Jermann (Executive Director of the Center for Digital Education).

All of this work is paving the way for the release of two complete MOOCs — 15 weeks of content — for a truly global audience.

Interview – Prof. Bruno Lemaitre

What audiences do you try to reach with these MOOCs?
These MOOCs currently serve our EPFL bachelor students and attract many learners from French-speaking countries. Translating them into English will significantly broaden our reach and make the courses accessible worldwide. Because this is an introductory course, the core content remains relevant over time. It provides all the fundamental concepts needed to understand immunology—a discipline central not only to the life sciences, but also to many areas of medicine.

These MOOCs benefit from high-quality learning materials, including numerous diagrams and animations. I was fortunate to build on the excellent resources developed within the Health Training and e-Training Foundation at UNIL. Immunology is often perceived as a complex discipline with its own technical language. My goal is to guide learners step by step into the details, without losing sight of the broader picture. Once familiar with the basics, students can explore many fascinating medical aspects of immunology, such as vaccination, autoimmunity, or immunotherapy.

Finally, at EPFL we are fortunate to have an outstanding team of MOOC experts and state-of-the-art video-recording facilities, which greatly support the production of high-quality online courses.

How is your immunology MOOC different from what is already available in English?
The translations are remarkably well done—far better than what I could achieve myself given my strong French accent when I speak English. Thanks to the lip-syncing, I appear completely natural, almost as if I were truly fluent in English. The course still preserves my personal marque de fabrique: a direct teaching style, even if my body language is not always the most expressive. We also chose to keep a voice with a tone close to mine, which helps maintain authenticity.

I believe that the high quality of the original French MOOC—where every sentence was carefully crafted—greatly facilitated the translation. Still, the final result is astonishing, and I am very curious to observe its impact. Learners who know me in real life will certainly be surprised by my apparent progress in mastering the language of Shakespeare!

Overall, I am genuinely impressed by the AI-mediated translation of my MOOC, supported by the MOOC Factory team. This is one of those moments when you think: this is truly game-changing!

Are there other MOOCs you are currently planning or recording? And would you translate those as well?
I am currently recording a course in evolutionary psychology in French. This is a sensitive topic that touches on important questions about human behavior. Despite the vitality of research in this field, there are relatively few courses available—especially in French-speaking countries. I believe this course could therefore be valuable for many students, and I would be very happy to translate it in order to reach a broader audience.

Would you also consider translating this MOOC into other languages, such as Arabic or Russian, in the future?
For someone like me, who probably experienced dyslexia, faces language challenges with a strong French accent when I speak English, AI translation offers remarkable opportunities to share knowledge. It allows me to reach audiences I could never address on my own. So why not translate these high-quality courses into languages I will never be able to master myself?

A new chapter for global education

Beyond its technical ambitions, this project reflects a much broader vision: making high-level scientific knowledge accessible across borders, cultures and languages. It also demonstrates how AI, when used responsibly and guided by human expertise, can become a powerful tool for education and knowledge sharing.

As the translated version prepares to launch, one thing is clear: immunology is no longer confined to a classroom or a single language. It is becoming a shared global resource.