DBRM courses 2008

Advanced course in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (September 1, 2008 - January 16 2009)

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

The course consists 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 36 2008 - week 3 2009).

Developmental Biology for Regenerative Medicine (September 1-12, 2008)

This two week course provided an advanced review of developmental biology - both descriptive and molecular, and an introduction to regenerative medicine including key concepts in translational research from the laboratory to the clinic.

Stem Cell Biology and Bioinformatics Tools (September 18-24, 2008)

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. The students had the opportunity to provide example problems. The course was organized in collaboration with Griffith University in Australia.

Regenerative Medicine of the CNS (October 1 -7, 2008)

This course presented an overview of common neurodegenerative disorders from the perspective on regenerative medicine and development of novel therapies. After the completed course, the students were able to discuss the known mechanisms and causes underlying the development of the most common neurodegenerative disorders and to describe development of novel therapies for these disorders. The course director was Dr. Eva Hedlund, The Stockholm Branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, email eva.hedlund@licr.ki.se and the course co-director is Dr. Rosario Sanchez Pernaute, email pernaute@inbiomed.org.

The synapse (October 8-10, 2008)

This course covered recent developments in synapse research including synaptogenesis, pre and postsynaptic molecular mechanisms, and synaptic plasticity. The course included lectures by leading experts in the field and a final research seminar. The course was a collaboration between the postgraduate program "The Neurosciences" (www.neuro.ki.se/gtn/Gradcourses.html) and DBRM Research School (www.dbrm.se). The course director was Lennart Brodin (email Lennart.Brodin@ki.se).

Correlative microscopy in cell biology (November 17-21, 2008

This course offered an overview of structural methods in cellular biology including novel approaches for analysis of subcellular events and laboratory practicals and demonstrations of specimen preparations. After the completed course the students were able to understand and explain the principles and modern approaches of correlative microscopy in cell biology, bridging the gap between light microscopy and electron microscopy, and to practically perform analyses of intracellular structures and events at high subcellular resolution.

Bioinformatics for Cell Biologists (May 12-20, 2008)

This two week long postgraduate level course covered essential, practical knowledge about computational and bioinformatics methods in biology for molecular biologists, specifically developmental biology.

Phenotyping of Genetically Modified Mice (May 12-24, 2008)

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, ethics, strategies for developing GEM:s and specific challenges in the breeding of mice. The course was organized by the Karolinska Center for Transgene Technologies and Import Portal North Campus (KCTT) and the Postgraduate program in Cell Biology and Genetics at KI with additional support from the DBRM Research school.