Courses@CRG: Tissue Engineering Course: From Stem Cells to Organoids

Organoids are revolutionizing the fields of developmental and stem cell biology as they have enabled the in vitro generation of complex structures resembling whole organs. They can be generated either from resident progenitors in adult organs or from pluripotent stem cells (ES and iPSc). When stem cells are grown in a 3D environment, they recapitulate the mechanisms of organogenesis seen in vivo. They are able to differentiate, go through the processes of cell-sorting and acquire the specific tissue patterning to develop into several endoderm- mesodem and ectoderm-derived tissues, mimicking their in vivo counterparts. These complex structures provide a unique opportunity to model human organ development in a system remarkably similar to development in vivo.

Selected participants will get an overview of the background and current methods for the generation and characterization of pluripotent stem cells, organoids and their genetic manipulation by CRISPR/Cas9 technology. They will have the opportunity to learn and practice how to generate and characterize:

• Mouse embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells
• Cerebral, liver and intestinal organoids
• Genetically modified organoids by CRISPR/Cas9 technology

Structure of the course

This intensive 5 day hands on course will be composed of talks from renowned international experts in the fields and the sessions will include both theoretical background and hands on practice. Each day will start with a theoretical overview of the particular subfield. This will be followed by a more in depth theoretical session directly linked to the practical session in the afternoon. Practical sessions are going to take place in the CRG training facilities, consisting of fully equipped wet and cell culture labs. The analysis and evaluation of the results will be performed in the bioinformatics teaching laboratory.

Organizers

• Laura Batlle (CRG, Spain)
• Meritxell Huch (University of Cambridge, UK)

Speakers and instructors

• Luigi Aloia (University of Cambridge, UK)
• Amanda Andersson Rolf (Hubrecht Institute, The Netherlands)
• Hannah Benisty (CRG, Spain)
• Carlo Carolis (CRG, Spain)
• Martin Gigirey (CRG, Spain)
• Marisa Karow (University of Munich, Germany)
• Alfonso Martinez-Arias (University of Cambridge UK)
• Nuria Montserrat (IBEC, Spain)
• Bernhard Payer (CRG, Spain)
• James Sharpe (EMBL, Spain)
• Jim Swoger (EMBL, Spain)
• Tian Tian (CRG, Spain)
• Marta Vila (CRG, Spain)

Duration

5 days: Starting on the 30th of July 2018 at 9 am and finishing the 3th of August 2018 at 5 pm.

Number of participants: 16

Worldwide participants will be selected according to their CV and motivation.

16 selected Participants will be notified via email by the end of April 2018.