6 ECTS credits
160 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4009569ENR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculteit Geneeskunde en Farmacie
Department
Basis (bio-) medische wetensch
Educational team
Hilde Van De Velde
Claudia Spits (course titular)
Luc Leyns
Activities and contact hours
30 contact hours Lecture
70 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

In this course, we teach the fundamentals of pluripotent stem cell biology focusing on mouse and human. We approach this by teaching about early mammalian development, totipotency and its associated pathways, reprogramming, differentiation and about the practical applications of pluripotent stem cells.

In the part on early human development, we provide in depth knowledge on human embryology by touching upon gametogenesis, fertilization processes, preimplantation development and implantation. The concept of totipotency is discussed in the context of early developmental processes such as patterning and lineage segregation. Reproductive medicine and research on human embryos are presented in a general manner, and cloning is explained.

The core of the course focusses on mouse and human embryonic stem cells and human induced pluripotent stem cells. We teach on differentiation of stem cells, both in 2D and 3D organoid models, and provide insight on the comparisons between human and mouse cells. Finally, we discuss the research and clinical applications of stem cells, including the use of stem cells in toxicological studies, early developmental research and ongoing clinical trials.

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : The powerpoint presentations will be made available through Canvas. These will include references to the most important publications in the field. These publications will also be made available to the students via Canvas., Canvas
Additional info

The course is structured in a flipped classroom model. The students will watch the online available recorded lessons, read papers, etc. prior to the classroom teaching. In the class, the teachers will provide summaries of the different modules of the course, interactive Q&A sessions and will exercise the skills and knowledge required for the exam.

Digital course material available on Canvas: There are about 20 hours of recorded lectures available. When possible, the life sessions will be recorded and made available. The slides used for these lectures are also available online.

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

In this course, we focus on two aspects:

A) the acquisition of knowledge on the subject of human and mouse pluripotent stem cells and early embryogenesis

B) the development of the student’s skills in critically assessing scientific work, using the background knowledge imparted in the course

At the end of the course the student must have acquired knowledge on:

  • The processes occurring during early mammalian embryogenesis, and the parallels between the mechanisms of cell fate determination in embryos and pluripotent stem cells.
  • The differences and similarities between mouse and human embryonic development and pluripotent stem cells
  • Reprogramming of cells
  • Basic knowledge on the derivation, characterization and culture of pluripotent stem cells
  • Methods and the principles behind differentiation of pluripotent stem cells
  • Research models developed using pluripotent stem cells
  • Clinical applications of pluripotent stem cells

The student will also be able to:

  • Summarize a scientific paper. The student will be able to identify the aims of the study and the main results. The student will also understand the methodology used to achieve these results and will be able to contextualize the results in the larger framework of the research topic.
  • Critically evaluate scientific work. The student will be able to combine the knowledge acquired during the course, with the study of literature related to the scientific paper under to provide a critical analysis of the paper.
  • Problem solving. The student will be able to formulate specific questions that arise during the reading of a scientific article and will be able to propose relevant experiments.

Extrapolate between scientific fields. The knowledge around methodologies used in stem cell research and parallelisms between embryonic stem cells and in vivo models will allow the student to make a link between clinical embryology, developmental biology and stem cell research.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
LEC Practical Assignment determines 40% of the final mark.
SELF Practical Assignment determines 60% of the final mark.

Within the LEC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • HOC with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 40% of the final mark.

    Note: The three professors will be present during the exam. The students receive a reference list (review articles and original studies). The students choose beforehand two articles from this list that they will prepare for a thorough discussion during the exam of one of the prepared articles. The student is also supposed to know the basic concepts of the course; a number of questions will also cover this.
    HOC: 40 % (oral)
    ZELF: 60 % (oral)

Within the SELF Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • ZELF with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 60% of the final mark.

    Note: The three professors will be present during the exam. The students receive a reference list (review articles and original studies). The students choose beforehand two articles from this list that they will prepare for a thorough discussion during the exam of one of the prepared articles. The student is also supposed to know the basic concepts of the course; a number of questions will also cover this.
    HOC: 40 % (oral)
    ZELF: 60 % (oral)

Additional info regarding evaluation

The oral exam consists of two parts, covering the two learning outcomes of the course.

Part 1: 60% of the final score. The student will prepare a scientific article, that will be discussed during the exam. The article will be assigned by the teaching team. The student will present the article in 10 slides, and the professors will ask questions related to the article and overlapping with the concepts taught in the course.

Part 2: 40% of the final score. The student will be questioned on other topics covered in the course and not necessarily linked to the scientific article.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Biomedical Sciences: Management and Business (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Biomedical Sciences: Clinical Biomedical Sciences (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Molecular Biology: Standaard traject
Master of Biology: Education (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Biology: Molecular and Cellular Life sciences
Master of Biomedical Research: Standaard traject
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: biologie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Health Sciences: standaard traject (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)