education
Registration opens for 3 MOOCs : "Social Sciences and Humanities and Epidemic Management", "Epigenetics" and "Rabies"
The digital education office is pleased to announce the launch of three new MOOC courses on ‘Humanities, Social Sciences and Epidemic Management’, ‘Epigenetics’ and ‘Rabies’.
‘Humanities, Social Sciences and Epidemic Management’ MOOC
This MOOC describes the contributions of the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) to understanding and managing epidemics. This is the 2nd edition of the course, which brought together 4,750 learners from more than 120 countries during its first session.
Developed as part of the Institut Pasteur Online Diploma in Infectious Diseases (DNM2IP), this course is a co-creation with the Pasteur Network, directed by Chiarella Mattern (Institut Pasteur of Madagascar), Hichem Ben Hassine (Pasteur Network), and Cyrine Bouabid (Institut Pasteur of Madagascar).
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate the contribution of SSH to the response to epidemics
- Master the key concepts of qualitative research in Social Sciences and Humanities applied to health
- Understand the ethical and methodological challenges of qualitative research
- Selecting appropriate methods for data generation in the context of a health emergency
- Discover the principles and challenges of various approaches to disseminating scientific knowledge and maximising the impact of research
Practical informations
- Course in French with subtitles (French/English)
- 100% free course, at your own pace. Paid certificate option available
- Course access starting September 1, 2026
‘Epigenetics’MOOC
This is the 5th edition of the course, directed by Germano Cecere, head of the Mechanisms of Epigenetic Inheritance Unit at Institut Pasteur, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology. Over the past four sessions, the MOOC has grown into a truly international learning community, bringing together 21,430 learners from more than 135 countries.
New content in this edition:
Built on the expertise of Institut Pasteur, this new edition of the MOOC welcomes new contributors from Institut Imagine:
Agnese Loda - Escape from X-inactivation and sex differences and Implications of X-Chromosome Inactivation
Annarita Miccio - Epigenome editing: therapeutic applications
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Comprehend the concept of epigenetics and give examples of epigenetic phenomena.
- Explain the main molecular mechanisms and molecules known to act in epigenetic processes.
- Discuss the implication of epigenetics in development and how environmental experiences can impact subsequent generations.
- Describe examples of diseases that are influenced by epigenetic mechanisms.
Practical informations
- English courses with subtitles (English/French)
- 100% free courses, at your own pace. Paid certificate option available
- The course starts on September 29, 2026
‘Rabies’ MOOC
The Digital Education Hub invites you to register for the third edition of the “Rabies” MOOC, which will be available starting October 13, 2026.
Rabies is a fatal encephalitis caused by a Lyssavirus primarily transmitted by the bite or scratch of infected animals. Despite efforts in recent years, an estimated 60,000 human deaths from rabies still occur each year worldwide, primarily in Asia and Africa. This is due to a lack of awareness, inaccessibility of post-exposure prophylaxis for exposed individuals, inadequate or non-existent canine rabies control programs, and lack of financial support from governments.
The objective of this MOOC is to share the experiences and knowledge of international experts in animal and human public health on rabies. The course emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary approach and "One Health" intersectoral cooperation for effective rabies control and elimination. It explains the pathophysiology, epidemiology, vaccines and elimination strategies of the rabies virus.
By the end of this course, you will be able to :
• Explain the transmission, symptoms and clinical management of rabies
• Specify the importance of different animal reservoirs in the spread of the virus
• Describe human and animal vaccination strategies to combat rabies virus
• Identify the role of international organizations in rabies elimination
• Discuss rabies control strategies in different regions of the world
Additional information :
Sign up for this MOOC
Produced with the support of the Pasteur Network, the MOOC “Rabies” is led by:
Hervé Bourhy, director of the Department of Global Health, the Lyssavirus, Epidemiology, and Neuropathology Laboratory, the WHO Collaborating Center for Rabies Reference and Research, and the National Rabies Reference Center at the Institut Pasteur of Paris,
Noël Tordo, director of the Institut Pasteur of Guinea, member of the Board of Directors of the Pasteur Network, and president of the French Society of Virology.
It is moderated by Guilherme Dias de Melo, senior research fellow in the Lyssavirus, Epidemiology, and Neuropathology Unit, and by Perrine Parize, physician and deputy director of the National Reference Center for Rabies.
As a Pasteurian, you can now access all the content of the 24 online courses created by the Institut Pasteur at any time and also benefit from the Institut Pasteur Digital Diploma in Infectious Diseases (DNM2IP) free of charge. This MOOC is one of 18 MOOCs accredited for the diploma launched in 2019, which already has more than 3,500 registrants across all continents.