DBRM courses 2009

Courses offered at Bachelor level

• DBRM contributes to undergraduate education by supplying expertise in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, and by promoting excellence in education in the Medicine programme and the Biomedicine programme at Bachelor level at Karolinska Institutet.

Courses offered at Master level

• Advanced course in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine 30 hp (August 31 2009 - January 15 2010)

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 know the basics of stem cell biology and the medical use of cell therapy. The students can 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 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 2009. Link to course pages.

• Advanced course in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine 10 hp (August 31 2009 - October 2009)

This course was one of the different profiles offered for the third semester of the Master's degree programme in Biomedicine at Karolinska Institutet. After the course, the students know the basics of stem cell biology and the medical use of cell therapy. The students can 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 consisted of lectures, seminars, group discussions and training in writing grant applications. Note that only students already accepted into the Masters program in Biomedicine qualified for this course. Link to course pages.

Courses offered at Doctoral level

• Developmental Biology for Regenerative Medicine (August 31 - September 11 2009)

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. The course director was Dr. Johan Holmberg. Link to course pages.

• Stem Cell Biology and Bioinformatics Tools (September 17-23 2009)

This one-week postgraduate course presents researchers with important bioinformatic analysis skills used in the study of stem cells. The course consists of lectures, computer exercises and case studies. Students have the opportunity to provide example problems. The course was organized in collaboration with Griffith University in Australia. The course co-directors were Dr. Elisabet Andersson and Dr. Alistair Chalk. Link to course pages.

• Cell Migration and Differentiation - from Development to Disease (September 28 - October 2, 2009)

This one-week course focuses on key events of cell migration and differentiation during organogenesis in the embryo and how some of these events are triggered in diseases like cancer and chronic inflammation. A common theme of the course will be to highlight how recent discoveries like epithelial-mesenchymal transitions and cancer stem cells contribute to tissue remodelling and cancer cell invasion and to discuss why and how they challenge established dogmas. The course is based on lectures but will also include group seminars and individual presentations. The course co-directors were Dr. Jonas Fuxe and Dr. Theresa Vincent. Link to course pages.

• Developmental and perinatal physiology (August 16-23, 2009)

The course, taking place in Toronto, Canada, in collaboration with the University of Toronto, provided basic knowledge in developmental and perinatal biology. The course provided basic knowledge in developmental and perinatal biology. The emphases of the course was on embryology, genome manipulation, placentation, developmental endocrinology, respiratory control, kidney development and developmental neurobiology. The course was co-organized by Karolinska Institutet and the University of Toronto and DBRM.

• Bioinformatics for Cell Biologists (May 25-29, 2009)

This doctoral level course provided essential, practical knowledge about computational and bioinformatics methods for cell biologists, specifically in developmental biology. The course director was Dr. Rickard Sandberg. Link to course pages.

• Genetics and epigenetics in stem cell biology (April 20-24, 2009)

This doctoral level course presented state-of-the-art advances in the understanding of genetics and epigenetic processes underlying the regulatory principles in stem cell biology. The course co-directors were Dr. Ola Hermanson and Dr. Jonas Muhr.

• The Ying and Yang of Endocytosis (September 28-October 2 2009)

The course covered different aspects of the cellular membrane endocytosis and intracellular trafficking, such as the basic molecular mechanisms controlling plasma membrane retrieval and molecular regulation of vesicular trafficking. Part of the course focused on the role of endocytosis in developmental biology, and the mechanisms by which viruses and bacteria hijack the endocytic pathway to promote their entry, replication and immune evasion in the host during infection. After the course, the students can describe the molecular mechanisms that regulate intracellular trafficking. The student also enhanced their analytical and critical thinking to discuss and understand advanced problems beyond what is found in text books, and evaluate the relevance of the topics presented in the context of their own research activities and doctoral studies. The course co-directors were Dr Teresa Frisan and Professor Oleg Shupliakov. Link to course pages.