Stanford offers new online course in stem cell therapeutics

Recent developments in stem cell research provide enormous potential for the field of regenerative medicine. Researchers are exploring how stem cell therapeutics might be able to treat and possibly even reverse the effects of many debilitative diseases including Alzheimer’s, type 1 diabetes and muscular dystrophy.

Working professionals can now learn about the research and breakthroughs pioneered at Stanford University through Stanford’s latest professional education course, Stem cell therapeutics. Offered entirely online, the course will advance the understanding of cell-based therapies and how they are developed and delivered.

Michele Calos, Professor of Genetics in the School of Medicine at Stanford, leads a team of course instructors. Professor Calos’ work is focused on advancing the science and clinical application of stem cell therapy using sequence-specific integration systems. “Our dream is to develop therapies in the lab that are translatable to clinical use,” she says. “Some of the laboratory strategies we will share with course participants have a real chance to evolve into clinical trials to treat some of the worst diseases of humankind.”

Available online from anywhere in the world, the course is a newly added elective to the Stanford Genetics and Genomics Certificate. Faculty from Stanford’s School of Medicine, a world leader in the fields of genetics, genomics and personalized medicine, teach within the program. Guest lecturers provide industry insight.

The dramatic expansion and acceleration of genetics and genomics research provides tremendous opportunity for professionals in the science-medical space. The certificate program and this new online stem cell course are well suited to medical sales representatives, R&D managers and new product teams, technology and VC leaders as well as medical practitioners.

Stem cell therapeutics will introduce participants to developing methods of restoring organ and tissue function for the treatment of chronic diseases, genetic disorders and serious injuries. Participants will learn how to identify different sources of stem cells, the key components of gene editing, and practices for designing and generating human iPS cells.

Other online genetics course topics in the Stanford Genetics and Genomics Certificate program include:

• gene therapy
• agricultural biotechnology
• genetic engineering
• personalized medicine
• understanding cancer

Acceptance into the online certificate program is ongoing and participants may apply through the Stanford Center for Professional Development. Details can be found at geneticscertificate.stanford.edu.