1 - STEM CELLS IN REGENERATIVE MEDICINE

Objective

To introduce PhD students to the biology of stem cells and experimental, basic and applied stem cell research in regenerative medicine, including embryonic stem cells and adult stems cells, legal and ethical aspects and the basics of safe clinical cell therapy. Through presentations, literature studies and discussions the course aims for students to distinguish what is known and what is not known, and to determine what remains to be done. Reading material for discussions will primarily be original publications.

Duration: 3 days (18 hours, excl. homework)
ECTS points: 2
Number of participants: Max. 20
Organizer: Prof. Jens Zimmer, Anatomy & Neurobiology, Univ. of Southern Denmark, Odense.
Teachers: Members of the National Faculty and the International Advisory Board of the Danish Stem Cell Research Doctoral School (DASCDOC)
Location: Winsløwparken 15 - 21, University of Southern Denmark, Odense.
Dates:To be announced

Draft program

Day 1
09.00-09.30         Welcome and Introduction to course aims and objectives
09.30-10.15         Developmental biology - a primer (talk)
10.15-10.35         Coffee break
10.35-11.20         Principles of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine  (talk)
11.20-12.10         Discussion and clarification of definitions; pinpointing of ethical aspects
12.10-13.10         Lunch
13.10-15.00         History and lessons from the hematopoietic system (talk and discussion)
15.00-15.30         Coffee break
15.30-16.15         Requirements for safe clinical cell therapy: Hematopoietic cells as example (PH)
16.15-17.00         Lab tour: Neural stem cell research at Anatomy & Neurobiology (MM)

Day 2
09.00-10.00         Embryonic stem cells and cell lines (PA?/SM?)
10.00-10.30         Human embryonic stem cells – a Danish experience (SL/MK)
10.30-10.50         Coffee break
10.50-11.30         Bovine embryonic stem cells – a Danish experience (PM-H ?)
11.30-12.10         Standards for human embryonic stem cells (ref: Science (2003) 300(5621):913-6)
12.10-13.10         Lunch
13.10-14.00         Student presentation and discussion of embryonic stem cell publications
14.00-14.45         Ethical aspects of stem cell research (SA)
14.45-15.05         Coffee break
15.05-16.10         Cell banking – experience from the UK Stem Cell Bank (GS)
16.10-17.00         Lab tour: Mesenchymal stem cell research at Odense University Hospital (MK)

Day 3
09.00-10.00         Tissue-derived (adult) stem cells - experience from the CNS (FHG)
10.00-10.50         Tissue-derived (adult) stem cells - experience with mesenchymal stem cells (MK)
10.50-11.10         Coffe break
11.10-12.00         Transdifferentiation – fact or artefact (discussion of published observations)
12.00-13.00         Lunch
13.00-14.00         Nuclear transfer and therapeutic cloning (IW)
14.00-14.40         Methods for isolation and sorting of stem cells (talk)
14.40-15.00         Coffee break
15.00-15.40         Protocols for propagation and differentiation of stem cells (talk)
15.40-16.20         “Stem-ness” genes – survey and guided discussion on gene expression analyses
16.20-17.00            Evaluation and End of course