DBRM course program 2007 

Advanced course in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (August 27, 2007-January 13 2008)

This advanced undergraduate course is both theoretical and experimental. The course is open to students interested in the area of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. After the course, the students should know the basics of stem cell biology and the medical use of cell therapy. The students should be able to apply and understand the theoretical basis for key technologies utilized in stem cell research. The course covers key concepts in translational research from the laboratory to the clinic.

The course consisted of lectures, seminars, group discussions, training in writing grant applications and a practical experimental project carried out at a stem cell research laboratory. The course spanned the entire Autumn semester (week 35 2007 - week 2 2008).

Development of the Nervous System   (September 10-14, 2007)

This one week postgraduate level course covered key mechanisms in the development of the central and peripheral nervous system in vertebrates, different model systems and important concepts of neurobiology in the context of regenerative medicine. The course consisted of lectures, seminars, discussions and tutorials and small projects.

Stem Cell Biology and Bioinformatics Tools    (September 20-26, 2007)

This one week postgraduate course presented researchers with important bioinformatic analysis skills used in the study of stem cells. The course consisted of lectures, computer exercises and case studies. Students had the opportunity to provide example problems. The course was organized in collaboration with Griffith University in Australia.

International Embryonic Stem Cell Workshop (October 9-11, 2007)

This workshop covered a spectrum of topics, from basic biology to issues with therapeutic applications, highlighting functional differences between human and mouse embryonic stem cells. With lectures on early embryonic development, ESC derivation/culture, ES cell differentiation protocols, methods for genetic modifications and therapeutic transplantations, the workshop aimed to give researchers both the theoretical knowledge behind embryonic stem cell research and the practical knowledge on how best to use the cells for their specific purposes.

Bioinformatics for Cell Biologists (May 7-11, 2007)

This one week long postgraduate level course provided essential, practical knowledge about computational and bioinformatics methods in biology for molecular biologists, specifically developmental biology. The integration of computational methods and resources into research projects, in planning and execution stages was emphasized throughout the course. The course commenced by introducing important sources of public database and analysis tool resources such as sequence analysis methods that have the most wide spread usage in biology. Common sequence analysis tools were described and used in practice to highlight their advantages and limitations. Practical work and discussions bridged sequence analysis to structures. 3D structures, molecular modeling, domain analysis and structure prediction were covered. The course included lectures on current advanced topics that reflected the leading edge of research and cover knowledge integration and essential systems biology. Integration into practice was emphasized by a mini project that evolved throughout the course. The course was jointly organized by DBRM, the A-Star Bioinformatics Institute in Singapore and the Postgraduate Program in Cell Biology at KI.

Phenotyping of Genetically Modified Mice  (March 5-16, 2007)

This two week long postgraduate level course covered basic skills in systematic and standardized phenotypic analysis of mutant (transgenic and knock in/out) mice, relevant aspects of mouse biology and physiology, strategies for developing GEM:s and specific challenges in the breeding of mice. The course was organized in collaboration with the Karolinska Center for Transgene Technologies and Import Portal North Campus (KCTT) and the Postgraduate program in Cell Biology and Genetics at KI.