Pluripotent Stem Cell Training

Training to support the culture of hPSCs and their differentiation towards cerebral organoids, intestinal organoids, cardiomyocytes, or hematopoietic progenitors

Note on Hands-On Training Courses: STEMCELL Technologies is not currently offering this standardized in-person training course, but may again in the future. Please reach out to your representative or LiveChat agent to enquire about customized training, or contact us through our phone or email channels. In the meantime, see what Live Virtual or On-Demand courses we offer, or visit this page to learn more about our Proficiency Testing Programs.

Overview

Learn the techniques and protocols to successfully derive and maintain high-quality human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells from somatic cells and their differentiation to specialized cell types.

Customize your training course by choosing from the different options available:
○ Reprogramming somatic cells to hiPS cells
○ Maintenance of hiPS cells and human embryonic stem (hES) cells
○ *Differentiation of hES and hiPS cells toward one of the following:
■ Cardiomyocytes (Option A)
■ Hematopoietic progenitor cells (Option B)
■ Neural cell types including cerebral organoids (Option C)
■ Intestinal organoids (Option D)

*Select your differentiation topic of choice (Option A, B, C, or D) in the Sign-Up form.
See Agenda for more information.


Participants Will Receive the following:
● Course booklet and USB key with instructional materials
● Tote bag with sample-sized products (where applicable)
● Certificate following successful completion of the course
● Lunch and refreshments on each day and dinner hosted on one of the evenings

Type: Training and Education
Subtype: Training Programs
Area of Interest: Stem Cell Biology; Drug Discovery and Toxicity Testing
Cell Type: Embryonic Stem Cells and iPS Cells
Species: Human
Venues :

CANADA
STEMCELL Technologies
1618 Station Street
Vancouver, BC, V6A 1B6, Canada

UNITED KINGDOM
STEMCELL Technologies UK Ltd.
Building 7100, Cambridge Research Park,
Beach Drive, Waterbeach
Cambridge, UK, CB25 9TL

THE NETHERLANDS
Leiden University Medical Center
Building 2
Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC Leiden
Leiden, the Netherlands
Subtype
Hands-On Training
Cell Type
Cardiomyocytes, PSC-Derived, Endoderm, PSC-Derived, Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells, Intestinal Cells, Neural Cells, PSC-Derived, Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells, Pluripotent Stem Cells
Area of Interest
Drug Discovery and Toxicity Testing, Epithelial Cell Biology, Neuroscience, Stem Cell Biology

Speakers

Speakers will vary depending on course topic, date, and location.

Arwen Hunter: Speaker for ES and iPS Cell Culture Maintenance and Differentiation Course
Arwen Hunter, PhD
Senior Scientist (Pluripotent Group), Research and Development
STEMCELL Technologies
Leon Chew: Speaker for ES and iPS Cell Culture Maintenance and Differentiation Course
Leon Chew, MSc
Scientist (Neural Group), Research and Development
STEMCELL Technologies
Vincenzo Macri: Speaker for ES and iPS Cell Culture Maintenance and Differentiation Course
Vincenzo Macri, PhD
Senior Scientist (Myogenic Group), Research and Development
STEMCELL Technologies
Wing Chang: Speaker for ES and iPS Cell Culture Maintenance and Differentiation Course
Wing Chang, PhD
Director, Research and Development UK
STEMCELL Technologies
Phillip Kramer, PhD
Phillip Kramer, PhD
Senior Scientist (Intestinal Group), Research and Development
STEMCELL Technologies

Agenda

Note that each day will end at approximately 4:30 pm with the course dinner taking place on the evening of Maintaining Human Pluripotent Stem Cells (hPSCs)
All course options followed by wrap-up which includes a quiz, evaluation, and certificate presentation.


Reprogramming of Somatic Cells to Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS Cells)

  • Lecture: Isolation and Reprogramming of Somatic Cells to iPS Cells
  • Practical Session: Isolation of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs)
    • Overview of EasySep™ cell separation system
    • Demonstrate preparation of PBMCs using SepMate™
    • Observe culture-expanded blood cells in StemSpan™ SFEM
  • Practical Session: Reprogramming of Somatic Cells to iPS Cells
    • Demonstrate transfection of human fibroblasts using ReproRNA™-OKSGM
    • Observe reprogrammed cells cultured in ReproTeSR™
  • Practical Session: Selection and Picking of iPS Cell Colonies

Maintaining Human Pluripotent Stem Cells (hPSCs)

  • Lecture: Maintaining and Assessing High-Quality hPSC Cultures
  • Lecture: Genome Editing with CRISPR-Cas9
  • Practical Session: Evaluating Quality of hPSC Cultures and Plate Coating
    • Observe time course of hPSC cultures and review colony morphology
    • Practice plate coating with Matrigel® or Vitronectin XF™
  • Practical Session: Passaging and Long-Term Maintenance of hPSCs
    • Practice enzyme-free passaging of hPSCs using Gentle Cell Dissociation Reagent or ReLeSR™
  • Practical Session: Cryopreservation and Thawing of hPSCs
  • Dinner (Courtesy of STEMCELL Technologies)

Differentiating hPSCs (Select Option in Sign-Up Form)

Guest Lecture by Christine Mummery: Microphysiological Systems Based on hiPSC to Study Cardiovascular Disease (Available in The Netherlands session only)

Option A: Differentiation towards Cardiomyocytes (Available in Cambridge, UK and Vancouver, CA only)
  • Lecture: Modeling Long QT Type 2 Syndrome using the STEMdiff™ Cardiomyocyte System
  • Practical Session: Evaluation of the Quality of hPSC Cultures after Passaging
  • Practical Session: Preparation of hPSCs as Single Cells for Cardiomyocyte Differentiation
  • Practical Session: Observation of hPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes
    • Observe time course of hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes
    • Dissociation and replating of hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes
  • Practical Session: Cryopreservation and Thawing of hPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes and Downstream Applications
Option B: Differentiation towards Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells (HPCs)
  • Lecture: Differentiation of hPSCs towards Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells
  • Practical Session: Evaluation of the Quality of hPSC Cultures after Passaging
  • Practical Session: Observation of hPSC-Derived HPCs
  • Practical Session: HPCs for Downstream Applications
    • Harvest HPCs from culture supernatant
    • Analyze hPSC-derived HPCs using the colony-forming unit (CFU) assay
  • Practical Session: Identification and Counting of Colonies in the CFU Assay
Option C: Differentiation towards Neural Cell Types Including Cerebral Organoids
  • Lecture: Differentiation of hPSCs Towards Neural Progenitors and Neural Cell Types
  • Practical Session: Generation of Embryoid Bodies (EBs) Using AggreWell™ and Preparation of Single Cell hPSCs for Monolayer-Based Protocols
  • Practical Session: Differentiation of hPSCs to NPCs
    • Examine neural aggregates in AggreWell™ and harvest EBs
    • Assess neural induction by scoring neural rosette formation
  • Lecture: Using Standardized Reagents to Generate Cerebral Organoids from hPSCs
  • Practical Session: Embed EBs in Matrigel® to Generate Cerebral Organoids
Option D: Differentiation towards Intestinal Organoids (Available in Cambridge, UK and Vancouver, CA only)
  • Lecture: Differentiation of hPSCs Towards Intestinal Organoids
  • Practical Session: Evaluate the Quality of hPSC Cultures after Passaging from Previous Day
  • Lecture: Applications of hPSC-derived Intestinal Organoids
  • Practical Session: Differentiation of hPSC Towards Intestinal Organoids
    • Observe time course of hPSC cultures to evaluate differentiation efficiency
  • Practical Session: Harvest and Embed hPSC-Derived Mid-/Hind-gut Spheroids
    • Embed spheroids in Matrigel®
    • Observe hPSC-derived intestinal organoids at passage 0
  • Practical Session: Passage hPSC-Derived Intestinal Organoids
    • Observe hPSC-derived intestinal organoids
    • Passage and maintain hPSC-derived intestinal organoids

Accommodation

Vancouver, CA

Pan Pacific Vancouver
300 - 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 3B5
Sheraton Wall Centre
1088 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2R9
Executive Hotel Le Soleil
567 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6C 2E8

Cambridge, UK (Transport included from this location to and from training venue - Cambridge UK only)

University Arms Parker's Tavern
Regent Street Cambridge CB2 1AD

Leiden, NL

Holiday Inn Leiden
Haagse Schouwweg 10, 2332 KG, Leiden, Netherlands
IBIS Leiden Centre
Stationsplein 240-242, 2312 AR Leiden, Netherlands
City Resort Hotel Leiden
Bargelaan 180, 2333 CW Leiden, Netherlands

Please contact education@stemcell.com for more information on seasonal rates (when applicable).

Policy

Travel Visas

Citizens may require a visa in order to enter the country as visitors. Please contact us at education@stemcell.com if you require a letter of invitation for your application. Note that travel visas may take up to 30 days to process.

Travel Visa Requirements

Canada
United Kingdom
Netherlands

Cancellation

A 90% refund will be issued if notification is received in writing more than 30 days in advance of the course start date. No refund will be given with less than 30 days’ notice unless we are able to find another participant to fill the spot.

STEMCELL Technologies reserves the right to cancel the course if we do not receive a minimum number of registrations 30 days in advance of the start date. Should the course be cancelled, your payment will be refunded in full. We recommend that you purchase travel insurance with your flights to cover the possibility of the course being cancelled.

Note on Hands-On Training Courses: STEMCELL Technologies is not currently offering this standardized in-person training course, but may again in the future. Please reach out to your representative or LiveChat agent to enquire about customized training, or contact us through our phone or email channels. In the meantime, see what Live Virtual or On-Demand courses we offer, or visit this page to learn more about our Proficiency Testing Programs.