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Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine - Online Program

Newcastle university

I have 30 years of expertise in human genetics, stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. I have set up clinical trials and am licensed by regulatory agencies. I am happy to share this experience through a series of lectures focusing on stem cells and their application in regenerative medicine.

Main Areas of Interest

General Knowledge of Stem Cells

Overview of Stem Cell Biology:
- Types of stem cells: embryonic, adult, and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)
- Characteristics and properties of stem cells
- The role of stem cells in development and tissue maintenance

Stem Cell Applications in Regenerative Medicine

Therapeutic Potential of Stem Cells:
- Principles of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering
- Case studies of successful stem cell therapies
- Challenges and ethical considerations in regenerative medicine
Clinical Trials and Regulatory Aspects:
- Setting up and managing clinical trials for stem cell therapies
- Liaising with regulatory agencies for approvals and compliance

Stem Cell Applications in Ophthalmology

Stem Cells in Eye Diseases:
- The role of stem cells in treating retinal and corneal diseases
- Advances in stem cell therapy for vision restoration
- Clinical outcomes and future prospects of stem cell-based treatments in ophthalmology

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) and Applications

Generation and Use of iPSCs:
- Techniques for reprogramming somatic cells to iPSCs
- Applications of iPSCs in disease modeling and drug discovery
- Potential of iPSCs in personalized medicine and patient-specific therapies

Specialties

Ophthalmology

Stem Cells

Cell Biology

Regenerative Medicine

Molecular Biology

Techniques You Will Learn

1. General Knowledge of Stem Cells

Stem Cell Derivation and Expansion
- Isolating and Culturing Stem Cells: Learn methods for isolating embryonic, adult, and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from various tissues.
- Optimizing Culture Conditions: Gain skills in maintaining stem cell pluripotency and expanding stem cell populations while preventing unwanted differentiation.

2. Stem Cell Applications in Regenerative Medicine

Stem Cell Differentiation

Guiding Stem Cells to Specific Lineages: Master protocols for differentiating stem cells into various specialized cell types, such as neurons, cardiomyocytes, and hepatocytes.
Understanding Molecular Pathways: Explore the molecular signals and pathways involved in stem cell differentiation to enhance the efficiency and purity of differentiated cells.

Setting Up New Protocols for Clinical Applications

Developing Clinical-Grade Protocols: Learn to design and implement protocols for the clinical-grade production of stem cells and their derivatives.
Regulatory Compliance: Understand the requirements for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and liaise with regulatory agencies to ensure compliance and successful clinical trial setups.

3. Stem Cell Applications in Ophthalmology

Stem Cell Characterisation
- Assessing Stem Cell Properties: Acquire techniques for evaluating stem cell pluripotency, multipotency, and differentiation potential through methods such as flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry.
- Functional Assays: Perform functional assays to test the therapeutic potential and effectiveness of stem cells in treating retinal and corneal diseases.

4. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) and Applications

Stem Cell Derivation and Expansion

Generating iPSCs: Learn the techniques for reprogramming somatic cells into iPSCs, ensuring high efficiency and maintaining quality.
Culturing iPSCs: Gain expertise in culturing iPSCs under optimal conditions to maintain their pluripotent state.

Setting Up New Protocols for Clinical Applications

Translating Research to Clinical Trials: Develop skills in translating preclinical research findings into clinical applications, focusing on designing protocols suitable for clinical trials.
Personalized Medicine: Explore the potential of iPSCs in personalized medicine, including patient-specific therapies and disease modeling.

Modules

The fellowship modules can be customized based on the actual research the candidate is pursuing, allowing for a more personalized and relevant learning experience. This customization ensures that the content aligns with each participant's specific interests and needs, particularly in regenerative medicine. By tailoring the modules to individual research projects, candidates can maximize the applicability and impact of their learning.

One-on-One Sessions

To complement the fellowship modules, we offer flexible 30-minute one-on-one sessions designed to meet the preferences and the unique needs of each candidate. These sessions can be consultations, Q&A, or working sessions, depending on the individual requirements of the trainee.

The host mentor will provide pre-reading materials or resources related to the module, helping you come prepared and make the most out of the session. Candidates are encouraged to share their specific questions, data, or issues they want to address during the session, allowing for a tailored discussion that directly meets their needs. It is recommended that candidates come well-prepared with their own data or specific questions to facilitate a more interactive and productive session. Following this approach, we aim to ensure that each session is meaningful and contributes significantly to the candidates' research and professional development.

Module 1: Introduction to Stem Cells

Overview of Stem Cell Biology:
- Types of stem cells: embryonic, adult, and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)
- Stem cell niches and their regulatory mechanisms
Stem Cell Derivation and Expansion:
- Techniques for isolating and culturing different stem cells
- Maintaining stem cell pluripotency and optimizing culture conditions

Module 2: Stem Cell Applications in Regenerative Medicine

Therapeutic Potential of Stem Cells:
- Principles of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering
- Case studies of successful stem cell therapies
Stem Cell Differentiation:
- Protocols for differentiating stem cells into specific cell types
- Molecular signals and pathways involved in differentiation

Module 3: Clinical Trials and Regulatory Aspects

Setting Up Clinical Trials:
- Designing and managing clinical trials for stem cell therapies
- Liaising with regulatory agencies for approvals and compliance
Setting Up New Protocols for Clinical Applications:
- Developing clinical-grade protocols and ensuring GMP compliance

Module 4: Stem Cell Applications in Ophthalmology

Stem Cells in Eye Diseases:
- Role of stem cells in treating retinal and corneal diseases
- Advances in stem cell therapy for vision restoration
Stem Cell Characterisation:
- Techniques for assessing stem cell properties and functionality

Module 5: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) and Newer Advances

Generation and Use of iPSCs:
- Techniques for reprogramming somatic cells to iPSCs
- Applications of iPSCs in disease modeling and drug discovery
Culturing and Expanding iPSCs:
- Optimizing culture conditions to maintain pluripotency
- Quality control measures for iPSCs
From Bench to Bedside:
- Translational research methodologies
- Pathway from discovery to clinical application
Emerging Therapeutics:
- Novel drug development and delivery systems
- Potential of personalized medicine and future prospects

Publications

Professor Majlinda Lako has numerous publications in top journals, particularly focusing on stem cell research and its applications. Here are some of her notable publications:

"Disrupted alternative splicing for genes implicated in splicing and ciliogenesis causes PRPF31 retinitis pigmentosa": This study discusses how disruptions in alternative splicing of genes related to splicing and ciliogenesis result in PRPF31 retinitis pigmentosa (Buskin et al., 2018).

"Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Generate Light Responsive Retinal Organoids with Variable and Nutrient-Dependent Efficiency": This research explores how human-induced pluripotent stem cells can generate light-responsive retinal organoids, highlighting the variability in efficiency based on cell density and nutrient availability (Hallam et al., 2018).

"3D culture of human pluripotent stem cells in RGD-alginate hydrogel improves retinal tissue development": The paper discusses how the 3D culture of human pluripotent stem cells in RGD-alginate hydrogel enhances retinal tissue development (Hunt et al., 2017).

"IGF-1 Signaling Plays an Important Role in the Formation of Three-Dimensional Laminated Neural Retina and Other Ocular Structures From Human Embryonic Stem Cells": This study investigates the role of IGF-1 signaling in forming three-dimensional neural retina and other ocular structures from human embryonic stem cells (Mellough et al., 2015).

"A single cell atlas of human cornea that defines its development, limbal progenitor cells and their interactions with the immune cells": This paper provides a single cell atlas of the human cornea, detailing its development and the interactions between limbal progenitor cells and immune cells (Collin et al., 2021).

"Pre-mRNA Processing Factors and Retinitis Pigmentosa: RNA Splicing and Beyond": The article reviews the impact of mutations in pre-mRNA processing factors on retinitis pigmentosa, highlighting the broader implications beyond RNA splicing (Yang et al., 2021).

"Activation of autophagy reverses progressive and deleterious protein aggregation in PRPF31 patient-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium cells": This research demonstrates how activating autophagy can reverse protein aggregation in PRPF31 patient-derived retinal cells, improving cell survival (Georgiou et al., 2022).

"Bruch’s Membrane: A Key Consideration with Complement-Based Therapies for Age-Related Macular Degeneration": The review discusses the importance of Bruch’s membrane as a barrier in age-related macular degeneration and explores different delivery routes for complement inhibitors (Hammadi et al., 2023).

"Human Retinal Organoids Provide a Suitable Tool for Toxicological Investigations: A Comprehensive Validation Using Drugs and Compounds Affecting the Retina": This paper validates human retinal organoids as tools for toxicological investigations, showing their similarity to in vivo models (Dorgau et al., 2022).

"Understanding Ocular Surface Inflammation in Tears Before and After Autologous Cultivated Limbal Epithelial Stem Cell Transplantation": This study investigates the inflammation in tears before and after limbal epithelial stem cell transplantation, providing insights into improving stem cell engraftment (Figueiredo et al., 2023).

Program Fee


Total Number of Modules	5
Time duration of Each module	40 minutes
Total Program Cost	$625

This program allows Merit Applications. This program allows merit-based applications for virtual and onsite clinical and research programs. If you are successfully awarded under this category, Trialect or the host mentor will cover the tuition fee only. All applications will be evaluated based on merit. Due to the high level of competition, the chances of being selected under the merit category are quite limited.

Who Can Apply

completed BSC DEGREE

have an interest in stem cell biology

Host Details

Host Name: Prof. Majlinda Lako

Affiliation: Newcastle university

Address: International Centre for Life, Central Parkway Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK

Website URL: retinalstemcellresearch.co.uk

Disclaimer:It is mandatory that all applicants carry workplace liability insurance, e.g., https://www.protrip-world-liability.com (Erasmus students use this package and typically costs around 5 € per month - please check) in addition to health insurance when you join any of the onsite Trialect partnered fellowships.

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