Course

Unit 1

Introduction to regenerative medicine: Adult stem cells, Stem cell niche, Trans differentiation and dedifferentiation, Tissue regeneration during injury, Fibrosis and Regeneration, Influence of Immune system and ECM on regeneration. Regeneration models in invertebrates/vertebrates and the cellular basis. Factors responsible for differences in regenerative capacity in animal kingdom.

Unit 2

Embryonic stem cells and Induced pluripotent stem cells: Derivation of embryonic stem Cells, Derivation of iPSCs, Properties of ES and iPSCs. Disease modelling using induced pluripotent stem cells

Unit 3

Tissue engineering (Stem cell-based therapies): Introduction to Tissue engineering triad (biomaterials, biomolecules and cells). Bone/CNS/Cardiac/Pancreatic/Liver tissue engineering strategies and stem cell therapies.

Unit 4

Molecular signalling regulating stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Notch Signalling, Wnt signalling, Hedgehog signalling, FGF, LIF- smad, Protein Kinase A

Unit 5

Ethics and Policies in stem cell research: Risks, side effects, safety, therapeutic value associated with stem cell therapies.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

This is an interdisciplinary course at the interface of the cutting-edge fields: stem cell research and regenerative medicine and bioengineering. The course covers how adult stem cells are specified into different cellular fate during health and disease, different model organisms used to study adult stem cell biology, role of extracellular niche and other molecular signaling pathways regulating stem cell fate decision. Course covers induced pluripotent stem cells, stem cell treatment using engineered stem cells and disease modelling using IPSCs. Course includes a discussion component where we discuss recent research advances in the field and ethics and policies in stem cell research.

COURSE OUTCOMES:

After the successful completion of the course, the students shall be able to

CO1: Explain various types of stem cells in the human body, the microenvironment and their potential in regenerative medicine.

CO2: Demonstrate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of regeneration through a comparative study involving naturally regenerating species.

CO3: Compare embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, stem cell treatment using engineered stem cells and disease modelling using iPSCs.

CO4: Assess new perspectives in tissue regeneration for stem cell therapy and regulations in stem cell therapy.

REFERENCES:

1. Mostly based on Research and Review articles from journals in stem cells and regenerative biology and medicine
2. Essentials of Stem Cell Biology by Robert Lanza and Anthony Atala
3. The Cell Biology of Stem Cells by Eran Meshorer and Kathrin Plath
4. Advances in Stem Cell Therapy by Nagwa El-Badri