Human Pluripotent Stem Cells in Culture

This is a hands-on, basic cell culture training course focusing on induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and human embryonic stem cells (hESC). 

Stem Cell Training course: Human Pluripotent Stem Cells in Culture

2021-2022 - Course date is flexible, will run once cohort is confirmed - maximum 4 participants.

This course is a hands on training course and not MBI accredited.

The course is designed for life science and engineering graduates new to stem cell culture or for more experienced individuals new to working with iPSC or hES cell lines.

The course would be applicable for those in industry aiming to work on stem research and bioprocessing. It will also provide managers with insights into the intricacies of cell culture and the necessary laboratory infrastructure requirements. Delegates will leave the module with practical knowledge to propagate, maintain and characterize feeder and feeder-free stem cell lines.

Programme

Day 1

  • Lecture: Introduction to Pluripotent stem cells in culture
  • Practical session 1:
  • Preparation of human ES medium.
  • Preparation of mitotically inactivated MEF
  • Passage of human ES on feeders
  • BD Biosciences: Diverse set of tools for stem cell research.
  • Demonstration of the BD Accuri™ flow cytometry and BD FACSJazz™ cell sorter.


Day 2

  • Lecture 2: Derivation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
  • Practical Session:
  • Assessment of PSC culture
  • Differentiation of human ES cells: Formation of spontaneous embryoid boides (EB) and defined EBs using Aggrewells
  • Coating flasks/wells with Vitronectin for feeder free culture
  • Practical session - Passaging Stem Cells on Vitronectin using different cell dissociation solutions
  • Immunofluorescent staining for surface antigens.


Day 3

  • Lecture 4: Stem cells in cell therapy and drug discovery
  • Lecture 5: The effect of reduced oxygen tension on feeder and feeder free culture of human pluripotent stem cells.

Practical session 4:

  • Harvesting EBs from AggreWell Plates
  • Completion of immunostaining protocol
  • Assessment of immunostaining
  • Assessment of feeder and feeder free culture

Practical Session 5:

  • ZTEMCELL Technologies: Reprogramming/maintenance/ differentiation. “Specialised media and tools for reprogramming CD34+ cells from blood”
  • Taking imaging of stained cells using fluorescence inverted Niko

Course Leader

Ludmila Ruban, Cell Therapy Research Facilitator and Training Coordinator and author of ‘Human pluripotent stem cells in culture’, recently published by Springer.

Customised courses for larger groups is available.  Additionally a basic tissue culturing course is also available for delegates with no prior culturing background.

For further information and bookings please contact:
E: l.ruban@ucl.ac.uk