A shared concept encyclopedia for clinical psychoneuroimmunology (cPNI) at the Pruimboom Institute — 2383 interlinked concept notes spanning all body systems, clinical themes, and twelve course modules.
cPNI views health through five integrating lenses — distinct from how mainstream medicine slices the body. If you read nothing else, read these.
| Framework |
What it means |
| Five metamodels |
Diagnostic framework — five interlocking system models for clinical reasoning |
| Selfish systems |
Brain, immune system, and metabolism compete for finite energy |
| Evolutionary mismatch |
Modern disease as friction between ancestral biology and the current environment |
| Leaky barriers |
Gut, blood–brain, lung, and skin barrier dysfunction as systemic driver |
| Resoleomics |
The science of resolving inflammation, not just suppressing it |
| System |
Description |
| Immunology |
Cytokines, immune cells, inflammation, autoimmunity |
| Neuroscience |
Neuroanatomy, neurotransmitters, brain–body axis |
| Endocrinology |
Hormones, HPA axis, thyroid, adrenals |
| Metabolism |
Energy systems, mitochondria, metabolic disease |
| Gut & Microbiome |
Gut flora, dysbiosis, barrier function |
| Psychology |
Stress, behaviour, psychoneuroimmunology |
| Evolutionary Medicine |
Mismatch theory, ancestral health |
| Nutrition & Lifestyle |
Nutrients, diets, food as medicine, lifestyle |
In cPNI, disease emerges at the interfaces between systems. See all intersections.
| Intersection |
Concepts |
Key themes |
| Immune-Metabolism |
611 |
Warburg effect, insulin resistance, adipokines |
| Neuro-Immune |
608 |
Neuroinflammation, sickness behaviour, microglia |
| Neuro-Psychology |
343 |
Stress, depression, bonding, HPA axis |
| Neuro-Metabolism |
318 |
Selfish brain, glucose sensing, ketones |
| Gut-Immune |
256 |
Barrier function, LPS, microbiome |
| Immune-Endocrine |
245 |
Cortisol resistance, thyroid, HPG axis |
| Immune-Psychology |
173 |
Psychoneuroimmunology, placebo, ACEs |
| Metabolism-Endocrine |
— |
Hormone regulation of energy & weight |
Year-by-year breakdown of the Pruimboom Institute master programme. ✅ done · 🚧 in progress · 📅 upcoming
| Module |
Topic |
Status |
Concepts |
| 01 — Introduction |
Foundations of cPNI |
✅ |
1,036 |
| 02 — Evolutionary Medicine |
Mismatch theory, ancestral biology |
✅ |
519 |
| 03 — Neuroendocrinology |
HPA axis, stress hormones, feedback loops |
✅ |
202 |
| 04 — The Immune System |
Innate & adaptive immunity, cytokines |
✅ |
170 |
| 05 — Wound Healing & Resoleomics |
Inflammation resolution, SPMs, pain |
✅ |
825 |
| 06 — Organs I |
Digestive & orofacial systems |
✅ |
258 |
| 07 — The Selfish Immune System |
Selfish systems, energy competition |
✅ |
226 |
| 08 — Diagnosis |
Five metamodels, clinical reasoning |
✅ |
192 |
| 09 — Organs II |
Skeletal & internal systems |
🚧 |
— |
| 10 — Nutrition & Movement |
Food as medicine, exercise physiology |
✅ |
141 |
| 11 — The P in PNI |
Psychology, bonding, behaviour |
✅ |
34 |
| 12 — Integration Year II |
Synthesis & exam preparation |
📅 |
— |
Modules 9 & 12 have content in progress — MOC pages pending.
The full index of all 16 concept categories lives at All types.
| Type |
Description |
| Molecules & Mediators |
Cytokines, hormones, lipid mediators, neuropeptides |
| Biological Processes |
Signalling cascades, inflammation, resolution, apoptosis |
| Cell Types |
Immune cells, neurons, glia, epithelial cells |
| Receptors & Channels |
TLRs, TRP channels, nuclear receptors |
| Interventions |
Supplements, protocols, lifestyle interventions |
| Clinical Concepts |
Conditions, syndromes, diagnostic patterns |
| Psychological |
Stress models, therapy approaches, behaviour |
| Frameworks |
Five metamodels, selfish systems, mismatch theory |
| Anatomical Structures |
Body regions, tissues, organs |
| Diagnostic Tools & Markers |
Lab tests, biomarkers, imaging |
| Environmental Factors |
Exposures, lifestyle triggers, ecological factors |
| Genes & Proteins |
Genetic variants, proteins, signalling molecules |
| Nutrients |
Vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids |
| Organisms |
Pathogens, commensals, vectors |
| Systems & Axes |
Body systems and axes (HPA, gut–brain, etc.) |
| Resource |
What's inside |
| A–Z index |
Every concept alphabetically — quick lookup |
| Glossary |
150+ key terms with 1–2 sentence definitions |
| Concepts by module |
All concepts grouped by module — targeted revision |
| Flashcards |
Anki-compatible Q&A decks |
| Creative learning |
Rap battles, telenovelas, pub quizzes, ASMR journeys, murder mysteries |
| Deep dives |
Long-form explorations beyond lecture material |
Use the search bar at the top of the page to jump to any concept, or follow the links above. In cPNI, every concept links to many others — for a complete map of every MOC in this vault, see the master index.