2008 Summer Workshop

Date: Tuesday 8th July – Thursday 10th July 2008 (inclusive)
Venue: The Centre for Stem Cell Biology, The University of Sheffield

This course is now fully subscribed.

This three-day residential workshop gives participants the opportunity to work with world-leading experts in the field of human embryonic stem cell biology and gain practical experience of the culture and basic analysis of hES cells using a variety of cell lines.

Laboratory practicals are supplemented with lectures of underlying concepts, the latest findings and the legal/ethical considerations in this fast moving field. The teaching faculty is composed of experienced staff of the CSCB as well as invited international experts. The course includes social events with ample opportunity for participants, to discuss their research projects and plans with faculty and to investigate potential collaborations.

Participants of the course are given complimentary registration to the one-day International Symposium on Friday 11th July

COURSE OVERVIEW:

This course is limited to 16 students and provides detailed hands-on practical training in the maintenance of human embryonic stem cells. A protocol handbook and training DVD will be provided.

PRACTICAL PROGRAMME:

Regulatory and ethical issues
Regulatory and ethical framework in the UK and elsewhere, legal and intellectual property issues. Where and how to obtain hES cell lines.

Principles of hES cell culture
Media preparation, feeder cells, growth factors and supplements, passage techniques.

Embryonic stem cell derivation
Embryo culture, protocols for hES derivation.

In situ immunofluorescence and flow cytometry
Immunostaining of cell colonies, flow cytometry principles and practice, multi-marker analysis.

Cryopreservation of cell lines
Principles of cryopreservation and basic methods, vitrification of hES cells, thawing and cell proliferation.

Methods of differentiation
Principles of differentiation induction strategies, monolayer culture, embryoid bodies.

Transfection of hES cells
Principles of hES cell transfection, vector design, transfection techniques and selection methods, establishing stably transfected hES cell lines, RNAi techniques.

Quality control and assurance
Maintaining cell quality, karyotypic of hES cells, avoiding infectious agents and assessing for contamination, GMP - moving towards clinical use.

Establishing a hES research programme
Organising the laboratory, master and stock cell lines, monitoring, regulatory issues.

Avoiding cell culture pitfalls
How to avoid hES cell culture disasters, design of research programme, troubleshooting.