Program Overview

Introduction to the Regenerative Biology and Medicine Program

The Regenerative Biology and Medicine program offers a unique journey, merging theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on experience in the lab over four semesters.

Program Structure

The program is structured into four semesters, each with its own focus and set of courses.

First Semester

The first semester provides foundations of regenerative biology, covering the fundamentals and giving students hands-on tools for their future research. The courses include:

• Stem Cells, Development, and Regeneration: This course covers the basics of stem cell biology, including fundamental definitions and concepts of the major stem cell systems, the theoretical and practical aspects of somatic stem cell biology, and the principles and molecular mechanisms underlying vertebrate development, organogenesis, and regeneration.
• Quantitative Biology: This course teaches methods for analyzing large and complex datasets and the principles of applied bioinformatics.
• Cell and Tissue Analysis and Transgenesis: This hands-on course covers basic molecular biology methods, introduces the principles of gene editing and genome engineering technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9, and touches on the practical applications of microscopy and flow cytometry.
• Electives: A selection of experimentally-oriented courses, including:
  • Electron microscopy
  • Cell separation techniques and analysis using magnetically and fluorescence-activated cell sorting
  • Micromanipulation techniques for modifying gene expression or the genome

Second Semester

In the second semester, students focus on Scientific Working Methods and Conduct, preparing them for their individual laboratory project. They learn how to critically reflect on scientific results, plan and present laboratory projects, write project reports, scientific publications, and research proposals.

• Advanced Methods of Human Cell Technology: This course dives deep into state-of-the-art cell technologies, including the generation and application of pluripotent stem cells and organoids.
• Students must commit to one of the three subject areas:
  • Regenerative Cell Biology: Offers in-depth knowledge of the central molecular and cellular mechanisms of development and regeneration of tissues and organs of the most important model organisms and the associated current experimental analysis methods.
  • Regenerative Neuroscience: Covers in-depth knowledge of cellular, molecular, systemic, and regenerative neurosciences and the associated current experimental analysis methods, as well as the clinical concepts of diseases for which neuro-regenerative therapies exist or are in development.
  • Regenerative Medicine: Offers in-depth knowledge of the pathology of diseases and the affected organ systems, as well as the associated clinical concepts of regenerative medicine, including the translation process from bench to bedside.

Third Semester

During the third semester, students dive into the topic of clinical research with the course Clinical Translation and Trials in Practice, which offers an overview of planning and conducting phase I-III clinical studies and deals with topics such as Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

• Aging and Senescence: This course offers an exciting perspective on the future applications of regenerative biology and therapies, building on the fundamental knowledge gained in previous semesters.

Fourth Semester

The fourth semester is dedicated to a Master's thesis, where students can choose from a variety of research topics and work in the excellent research environment of the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD) or reach out to research groups at other TU Dresden departments, the clinic, or partner institutes.