Human Embryonic/Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Culture Training Process
The Yale Stem Cell Center offers training for researchers at Yale University who have extensive cell culture experience but are not yet experienced in handling human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The hESC/iPSC Core will provide training and ongoing support in thawing, maintenance, expansion, differentiation, and cryopreservation of hESCs/iPSCs.
Training Requirements:
Yale investigators who are interested in being trained on working with hESCs in the hESC/iPSC Core Facility must complete the following requirements:
- Review the Yale Provost's policy on hESC Research http://provost.yale.edu/policies/hesc.
- Complete the training required by the ESCRO Committee. Training and Certification at Yale.
- Be an approved investigator on an approved Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight (ESCRO) protocol.
- Complete the Request for hESC/iPSC Culture Training form.
Investigators from Yale and other institutions who are interested in being trained on working with iPSCs in the hESC/iPSC Core need to submit a Request for hESC/iPSC Culture Training form.
Investigators from other institutions who is interested in being trained on working with hESCs must provide evidence of ESCRO approval/training from their home institutions and submit a Request for hESC/iPSC Culture Training form.
Training Schedules and Fees for Courses
The hESC/iPSC Culture training has been developed for two audiences: Novice and Experienced. Both require completion of the Training Requirements listed above. The Novice course is a 2.5-day course and it is offered 5 days per week from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. This course is for users who have never cultured hESCs and would benefit from a hands-on training from hESC/iPSC Core staff. The training schedule is as follows:
Day 1 - Lecture on hESC/iPSC; identify undifferentiated and differentiated hESC colonies; make/check feeders and medium; feed hESCs.
Day 2 - Passage hESC/iPSC by weeding.
Day 3 - Form EB for differentiation; make Matrigel plate.
Day 4 - Pass hESC/iPSC by cut-paste from feeder-free serum-free to feeder-free and serum-free conditions.
Day 5 - Check cells; discussion, and presentation of training certificate.
Fees for the Novice hESC/iPSC Culture training course is $665. Trainees who are not affiliated with an hESC lab, please contact Caihong Qiu.
Four individuals can be trained at one time. Course fees include all training supplies needed to develop hESC lines. The new lines that are grown during training will remain the property of the hESC/iPSC Core upon completion of the training. Trainees with a valid Yale ID will be provided with access to the hESC/iPSC Core and to the on-line scheduling software to schedule use of the equipment.
The Experienced course is for users who: a) were trained at other institutions, or b) are familiar with culturing human cells and work with experienced researchers who will be responsible for training the new users on how to culture hESCs/iPSCs. All hESC/iPSC Core users must attend an orientation on hESCs and training on the use of the hESC/iPSC Core Facility. The Experienced course is a 2-hour session that includes a 1-hour presentation and a tour of the hESC Core Facility. The fee for this course is $60 per trainee.
For additional information, please contact caihong.qiu@yale.edu at 203-737-7925 or jason.thomson@yale.edu at 203-785-6673.
Prioritization of Training Requests
After fulfilling the above requirements, investigators will be assigned training slots accordingly.
For additional information, please contact Valancia Ariyanayagam at 203-785-5658.