Background of the proposed Summer Course
Musculoskeletal disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide. By 2030, over 30% of the Hong Kong population will be over 65 and the estimated incidence of osteoporosis will be one in three women over 50 and one in five men over 65. Osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis, typically associated with chronic pain will affect 30% of the population of Hong Kong. The estimated healthcare and related social costs are estimated at HK$100 billion per year in 2030, a significant financial burden for Hong Kong. These conditions are associated with reduced healing/regenerative potential. Regenerative medicine is an emerging discipline harnessing cells, biological factors and tissue engineering techniques to enhance regeneration potential, presenting a new dimension for the treatment of these disabling disorders with the potential to transform clinical practice.
Mainstream research centers, typically, on exploring research projects to control and regulate the production of therapeutically-relevant cell types from marrow stromal cells (MSCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) towards: i) stromal lineages including bone and cartilage as well as work to generate tendons; ii) to optimize cell expansion and differentiation protocols; iii) to explore novel biomaterials for stem cell delivery; iv) to validate the efficacy of stem cell therapy in animal models of osteoporotic fracture, OA and, vi) to develop good clinical practice for stem cell therapy and establish a stem cell bank with good manufacture practice (GMP) laboratory facilities for clinical applications. Hence, a key requirement in developing the next generation of regenerative medicine scientists and clinicians is training and teaching of the principles of stem cell biology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine to postgraduate students to inspire them with the state-of-the-art research findings and clinical applications.
This summer course is designed to teach students the fundamentals of stem cell biology, their application in regenerative medicine with musculoskeletal disorders as an exemplar. The faculty team has a unique strength of expertise and track record: all the lecturers are active and world-renowned researchers in the field of stem cell biology, developmental biology and tissue engineering. The faculty will teach the students on established stem cell culture methods and demonstrate to the students how the stem cells are generated, cultured, characterized and used for clinical applications.
Objective(s) of summer course
Goal 1: To understand the concept of stem cells, their sources and characterisation approaches.
Goal 2: To understand the differences and learn current developments in adult, embryonic and induced stem cells.
Goal 3: To understand and learn the various factors that control stem cell fate and function.
Goal 4: To understand the concepts of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Goal 5: To learn and understand the latest developments in the field of developmental biology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
The course is laboratory and classroom based.
Participants in this summer course and supports
We propose to have 30 postgraduate students or young researchers for this summer course. The number of students from different regions/countries is estimated as following: Hong Kong about 13 students; mainland China about 12 students and overseas countries rather than mainland about 5 students. The course participants could be postgraduate students in related fields or early career researcher from Hong Kong or outside Hong Kong, and it is through open competition and selection.
The registration fee for the course is HK$3,000 all-inclusive and the organizer will also provide 15 scholarships to PG students on competitive basis with HK$3,000 each (waive the registration fee), and 5 special travel allowance grants with HK$5,000 each (waiver of registration fee of HK$3,000 plus giving HK$2,000 travel allowance) to enable students (mainly from outside Hong Kong) with financial difficulties to attend this summer course. The PG students are encouraged to apply these traveling scholarships by sending in personal CV and statements to the course organizer before 15 May 2023, and the successful students will be notified before 30 May 2023 or ASAP.
Each of the course attendants will be provided hotel accommodation (shared room) for 6 nights including full boarding, 5 days teaching program including lectures, laboratory-based teaching and seminars, as well as social activities including a boat tour and course banquet for all course lecturers and participants. It is hoped that these activities will showcase Hong Kong’s culture and enable the course participants to build up friendship.
Please refer to the registration details and download the application form, and send it the course organizer before the deadline as specified in the application form.
Website: http://www.ort.cuhk.edu.hk/csc2023/