6 ECTS credits
160 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 4009572ENR for all students in the 2nd semester of even academic years (e.g. 2012-2013) at a (E) Master - advanced level.
The aim is to provide an overall view of adult stem and progenitor cells and their clinical applications, and to provide fundamental and complementary knowledge that prepares the students for other specialized courses on this topic:
- Embryonic stem cells (2nd semester, 4009569ENR)
- Stem cell biology (2nd semester, 4012302ENR)
- Beta Cell therapy in diabetes (1st semester, 4006667ENR)
- Hematopoietic Cell Therapies (1st semester, 4009575ENR)
In the course, we will cover:
1. Introduction to stem and progenitor cells, including the concepts of stemness, the stem cell niche, plasticity, potency , differentiation, transdifferentiation, dedifferentiation and in vivo reprogramming.
2. Types of adult stem and progenitor cell types and their clinical applications, including hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells and MAPCs; neural stem cells intestinal stem cells, skin and hair follicle stem cells, liver and pancreating cells, spermatogonial stem cells and the controversy around ovarian stem cells and cancer stem cells.
3. Tissue engineering in research and therapy, including organoids and methods in tissue engineering such as organ de-cellularisation and cell seeding and 3D cell printing, along with clinical applications.
4. Practicing the discussion of a scientific paper
Learning objectives
1) the student will acquire fundamental knowledge on what stem and progenitor cells are, where we find them in vivo and how to grow them in vitro, how they are used in tissue engineering and on how they are used in clinical applications.
2) the student will be able to integrate this theoretical knowledge with his previous general knowledge in Biology/Biomedical sciences, and use this to understand and critically assess scientific publications on this topic
- Students should become familiar with the "adult stem cell" concept and learn how to approach the adult stem cell using rigid definitions.
- Students should be able to critically evaluate and interpret research design and -results (scientific papers) on the existence and (possible) functions of adult stem cells under healthy and pathological conditions, by examining the research problem, rationale, methodology, results and interpretation.
- Students will be stimulated to participate in scientific discussions on the above mentioned scientific issues.
- Students need to be able to present seminal research papers followed by scientific discussion.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
The students will receive, at the end of the course, a scientific article that they will have to prepare for the exam. The student will prepare a 10 minutes presentation that will be discussed during the exam. Finally, the student will be questioned on their theoretical knowledge, as taught in the course.
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 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)