The course, called the Frontiers in Human Embryonic Stem Cells Advanced Training Course, offers solutions to some of these problems. It was originated by stem cell pioneers Gerald Schatten, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh and Roger Pedersen, PhD, of Cambridge University with the goal of recruiting and developing the future generation of human embryonic stem cell researchers. While the previous courses lasted three weeks, the Stanford course has been condensed to one week. Both Schatten and Pedersen will be lecturing.
The morning lectures will cover the ethics of egg donation, history of embryonic stem cell derivation, legal aspects of working with stem cells and biological processes in stem cells. Afternoon laboratory workshops will give the 20 course participants hands-on experience learning cellular, molecular and genetic approaches to working with embryonic stem cells.
The opportunity to interact with others working on human embryonic stem cells is a boon for Stanford researchers, according to Julie Baker, PhD, assistant professor of genetics, whose own work involves studying and hopefully creating the persnickety cells. Although she's not enrolled in the courses she's hoping to get advice from visiting researchers. She is particularly interested in learning how other labs increased their success rate harvesting stem cells from early embryos. In the recent article in Science, Hwangs's group reported a success rate of about one in 10 - two to three times better than what other labs typically experience.
"This is a great chance to learn more about protocols used by other labs," Baker said.
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Contact: Michelle Brandt
mbrandt@stanford.edu
650-723-0272
Stanford University Medical Center
14-Jun-2005