Exploring Heart Development & Regeneration - Stem Cells in Action

What it is about

You work in the laboratory of the Chair of Regenerative Medicine for Cardiovascular Diseases on projects related to heart development and regeneration. You will learn how to produce human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSCs)–derived heart organoids (epicardioids) and to analyze them using cellular biology methods to model heart diseases.

What you will be able to do

• Handling hiPSCs: culture, passaging, counting and freezing
• Initiation of directed differentiation of hiPSCs into cardiac cell lines
• Analysis of cardiac cells/organoids: microscopy and immunofluorescence
• Performing flow cytometry and qPCR for characterization
• Optional: Lentiviral transduction and genetic modification of cardiomyocytes
• Optional: CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing of hiPSCs

What the module consists of

• PraktikumLaboratory internship with daily presence for conducting and documenting experimental work
• SelbststudiumLiterature review for professional preparation and deepening
• PräsentationPresentation of one’s own results as part of the assessment

Teaching method

• Laboratory work under individual supervisionEnables practical learning and application of experimental methods
• Discussion with supervisors and group leadersReflection of results and professional contextualization
• Documentation in the laboratory notebook and creation of a lab protocolEnsures traceability and scientific preparation of the work
• Final presentationTrains the presentation and interpretation of one's own data