Stem Cells

In this course we delve into the fascinating world of stem cells, exploring their biology, their roles in the body, and their diverse applications. Stem cells are the building blocks of life: every cell in every tissue originates from a stem cell or is a stem cell itself, residing in a specialised niche and ready to replace cells that are lost or damaged.

The course follows the journey from fundamental stem cell biology to cutting-edge biomedical applications. We will discuss a variety of topics including pluripotent stem cells and adult stem cells, cloning and reprogramming, differentiation and self-organisation into tissues and organs, regulatory niches and signalling pathways that regulate stem cells. Furthermore, we will examine how stem cells are used for disease modelling, organoid and organ-on-chip technologies, and emerging approaches in regenerative medicine and diagnostics.

The assessment consists of two parts: a written exam with open questions, and a journal article presentation.

Re-exam is only possible for the written exam. The re-exam can also be an oral exam, to the discretion of the teacher.

The final grade is composed of 75% the exam and 25% the journal article presentation. Exam and journal article presentation can compensate for each other.

Students who are unable to present their journal article due to personal circumstances must contact the academic counsellor as early as possible.

Registration for exams is done via Osiris.