Technical Training

The Massachusetts Human Stem Cell Bank (MHSCB) currently offers training courses on the culture of human pluripotent stem cells as well as pluripotency testing and cellular reprogramming. These courses are taught by instructors from the MHSCB and industry that have extensive day-to-day experience in these techniques. We offer a low (1:2) instructor to student ratio to ensure personalized instruction.

To maintain a low instructor-to-student ratio, the MHSCB taught courses are currently limited to 6 or 8 students per session. We recommend contacting us prior to applying to obtain the most up-to-date information regarding session status.

Email: stemcelleducation@umassmed.edu


Training Lab 

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New! Human iPSC Derivation and Culture

This course will provide an overview to several of the most widely used techniques for generating pluripotent stem cells. The 3-day workshop will provide the knowledge and skills for participants to begin reprogramming studies in their own laboratory. Like the basic culture class, this workshop will provide ample hands-on laboratory experience with a 1:2 instructor-to-participant ratio.

More information......
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Basic Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Culture

The 3-day course offers both lecture and laboratory based instruction. All attendees will receive a full set of culture protocols.

he laboratory portions of the course cover the following topics:

  • Reagent preparation
  • Thawing and seeding of MEF feeders
  • Thawing and seeding of hESCs
  • Evaluation of hESC quality
  • Passaging (splitting) of hESCs
  • Cryopreservation of hESCs
  • Embryoid Body Formation

The lecture based sessions and demonstrations cover:

  • Basic hESC biology
  • Keys to the successful culture of hESCs
  • How to identify and obtain hESCs
  • Overview of essential quality control assays
  • Feeder free culture



Course Calendar

Session # / Dates

Status

2011

11-06
June 8 - 10

Completed

11-09
Sept. 7 - 9

Completed

Stemgent iPS
Nov. 15 - 18

Completed

11-12 basic
Dec. 6 -8

Completed

11-12 EB
Dec. 9

Completed

2012

iPSC Course
June 6-8

FULL

iPSC Course
Oct. 23-25

Apply

Note: All course dates are tentative pending extent of enrollment.    

  

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Prerequisites

Due to the nature of hPSC culture and time constraints, course enrollees must have:

  1. An understanding of aseptic (sterile) technique
  2. An understanding of the principles of animal cell culture
  3. At least six months of recent, hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture

Cost

Please contact us at stemcelleducation@umassmed.edu for a current fee schedule.

Attendees are responsible for their own travel and accomodations.

Directions

The course is taught at the Massachusetts Human Stem Cell Bank and Registry, located in the Rose and Gordon Laboratories at 222 Maple Avenue in Shrewsbury, MA 01545 (Google Map).

Detailed directions and accommodation information