Hands-on Workshop on Cell Culture Techniques
SBASSE Life Sciences Workshop 2023
Event Date: December 13-15, 2023
Registration Deadline: November 15, 2023
Limited Seats Only (Registration on First Come, First Serve Basis)
Please register at: Click here
Get your Fee Voucher: https://register.lums.edu.pk/
This practical workshop is designed to teach and train students and researchers in basic cell culture techniques. The workshop will provide a fundamental understanding of cell culture and its use in modern biology through daily lectures, followed by demonstration of these techniques through extended laboratory sessions. These sessions will aim to equip the participants with basic cell culture techniques, including cell harvesting, subculturing, seeding, cryopreservation, transfections, cytotoxicity assays, and immunofluorescence. Cell culture techniques are fundamental to various fields of medical and biological research. Training in this area will enable students and researchers to conduct basic research, effectively investigate diseases and develop new drugs or vaccines. Cell culture training will allow scientists to work with disease-causing agents in a controlled environment, enabling them to understand the pathogens better and develop disease control and prevention strategies.
With the global biotechnology industry booming, there is a high demand for cell culture expertise. By training students in cell culture, Pakistani universities will develop a skilled human resource in this area. In addition, cell culture is integral in medical diagnostics, including cancer screening and genetic testing. Training in cell culture will enhance the capacity of local healthcare facilities to offer advanced diagnostic services, leading to improved patient care and disease management. This training will not only benefit researchers and scientists but also provide opportunities for students to learn fundamental techniques and contribute to scientific progress.
Workshop Topics
- Introduction to Cell and Tissue Culture
- Cell Culture Lab Safety Practices
- Media Preparation
- Cell culture techniques, passaging of adherent and non-adherent Cell Lines
- Maintenance of human cancer cell lines
- Cell Counting by Haemocytometer
- Cell Seeding
- Cell Viability Assay (Trypan blue Staining)
- Cryopreservation: Freezing and thawing of human cancer cell lines
- MTT or SRB Assay for cell proliferation/cytotoxicity
- Evaluation of Anticancer drugs on Different Cancer Cell Lines
- Transfection and Immunofluorescence
Workshop Cost:
For Students: Rs. 10,000/- (student ID copy must be emailed)
For Faculty/Doctors/Scientists/Postdocs: Rs. 15,000/-
Accommodation Charges:
For 3- Days Accommodation in LUMS Hostel without Meal (Dinner): Rs.3,000/-
For 3- Days Accommodation in LUMS Hostel with Meal (Dinner): Rs.4,500/-
Contact Person:
Khalida Asif: dlsevents@lums.edu.pk
Instructor
Dr. Amir Faisal received his PhD in Cell Biology from Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research/University of Basel, Switzerland in 2004. During his PhD he identified novel roles for Shc protein, an important adaptor downstream of tyrosine kinases, in insulin signalling and cytoskeletal reorganization. He received his first postdoctoral training (2004-2008) in Protein Phosphorylation Laboratory at London Research Institute where he discovered that another adaptor protein, MyD88, couples Protein Kinase C epsilon to Toll like receptors during innate immunity. From 2008 to 2014, he worked at Cancer Therapeutics Unit of Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton first as postdoctoral fellow and later as senior scientist. He played an important role in progression of several drug discovery projects, one of which resulted in discovery of a pre-clinical development candidate that will undergo phase I clinical trials in 2016. After joining LUMS in August 2014, he has established a cancer therapeutics lab at SBASSE.
The main project in cancer therapeutics lab aims to discover small molecule inhibitors that target key mitotic proteins, including Aurora kinases and microtubules in collaborations with organic and medicinal chemists, both within and outside LUMS. Some of the microtubule targeting agents discovered in his lab can overcome Pgp-mediated multidrug resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. His lab also utilizes various cell-based high throughput screening approaches to screen in-house and commercial libraries for compounds that can overcome multidrug resistance or target FLT3 oncogene. Identification of new therapeutic strategies for oral and breast cancers through compound library screening and drug combination studies is another exciting area his lab is currently pursuing. Screening of >1100 drugs with known targets in oral and breast cancer cell lines has identified hits that inhibit the growth of these cells at low nanomolar concentrations. They are using primary tumour cells isolated from oral cancer patients for evaluation of these newly identified hits for their efficacy.
Apart from cancer therapeutics, his lab is also undertaking some basic research to decipher mechanisms underlying stem cell differentiation and epigenetic control of gene expression.
Frequently asked questions
Q1: Who should attend the “Hands-on workshop on Cell Culture Techniques”?
o Students (BS/MS/Ph.D.)
o Faculty/Post-Docs
o Medical Doctors
o Veterinary Doctors
o Scientists working in the pharmaceutical/Public Healthcare Industry
Q2: What is the purpose of this workshop?
This workshop aims to teach and train students and researchers in fundamental cell culture techniques to support their work in modern biology and medical research.
Q3. What are the benefits of attending this workshop?
Attending this workshop offers several benefits, including:
o Develop a deep understanding of fundamental cell culture techniques.
o Interacting with experts or experienced facilitators who can provide valuable insights.
o Networking and collaborating with other participants.
o Hands-on experience in the techniques used in mammalian cell culture.
Q4. What will I learn in this workshop?
Participants will gain a thorough understanding of cell culture, including techniques such as cell harvesting, subculturing, seeding, cryopreservation, transfections, cytotoxicity assays, and immunofluorescence.
Q5. Can students from various backgrounds participate in this workshop?
Yes, students, faculty, doctors, and researchers from diverse fields are welcome to attend. The workshop is designed to provide a solid foundation in cell culture techniques for beginners.
Q6. Will there be hands-on laboratory sessions in this workshop?
Yes, the workshop includes extended laboratory sessions where participants will have the opportunity to practice and demonstrate the learned techniques.
Q7. Can participants earn certificates from the Department of Life Sciences, LUMS?
Yes, every participant will be awarded with certificate of participation.
Q8. Does the registration fee include accommodation charges?
No, Registration fee does not include accommodation charges. To get On-campus accommodation during the workshop, participants will need to pay additional charges.
- For Three-Nights Stay at LUMS Hostel and Dinner: Rs. 4,500/-
- For Three-Nights Stay at LUMS Hostel only: Rs. 3,000/-
