From lab to lecture: a comprehensive overview of international organ-on-chip courses
Organ-on-chip technology is an amazing technique to model human, physiological mechanisms on a small scale without the use of animal models. If you as a researcher are versed in cell culture, learning how to create your own organ models is absolutely feasible in just a few months. That’s said it will require some training and ideally by experts in the field.
Organ-on-chip courses deliver exactly that. A comprehensive introduction to the method with practical lectures and expert advice on the matter.
However, finding such courses and then picking the one that suits your needs and skill level takes time. So we thought we make things easier for you and provide a list of available courses detailing the educational content, location, duration and provider. Note, this list contains only providers offering theoretical as well as practical lectures, as we strongly feel this is necessary to be able to establish a new method in your own lab.
Organ-on-chip courses
- AZAR Innovations
- REACT4LIFE
- Molecular Devices/ Mimetas
- EUROoCS/ 3R-Center Tübingen
- Mimetas - E-Learning
- Mimetas
- Epithelix and Altertox Academy
- ESTIV
- Dynamic42
Course title
Location
Frequency
Duration
Technology
Practical course content
Organ on a chip MasterClass – Lectures and hands-on training
Different for each workshop
Several per year
2 days
Different platforms
Summary: Sterilization of chips, seeding of cells, establish perfusion set up, ooc operation in incubator and sterile hood, sampling, cell viability assays, retrieving and fixing cells from the system, imaging techniques in chip
1. Preparation:
- Work with different types of chips
- Learn how to: sterilize and work sterile with chips
- Seed cells (for simpler logistics, we use no cells but colored demi water)
- Connect different types of perfusion systems to chips
- Calculate the required flow for the cells and run the system
- Learn tips and tricks of preparing an organ on a chip system
2. Experiment:
- Simulate operating the whole system in an incubator and a biosafety hood
- Take samples and refresh
- Learn how to monitor cell viability under a microscope
3. Extract data:
- Disconnect the chip Simulate fixing the cells or the tissues
- and/or retrieving them from the system
- Learn imagining method in the chip
Theoretical lectures
- Keynote presentations from selected speakers
- Quizzes
- Group assignments
- Presentations such as introduction to organ-on-chip, preparation of the experiments, experimental procedures and data extraction
Additional material received
N/A
Registration link
Course title
Location
Frequency
Duration
Technology
Practical course content
Organ-on-chips workshop
Genova, Italy
One per month
1 days
MIVO platform for 3D cell culture
- Handling of gels for 3D cultures
- How to set up the MIVO® device for 2D-3D cell cultures (eg. Transwell® inserts, 3D polymer gels, and biopsies)
- Overview of different circuit configuration
- Design and setting of physiological fluid flows
- Handling of pumping systems
- Filling, media change and sampling from donor and receiver chambers
Theoretical lectures
- Introduction to Organ-on-a-Chip and MIVO® technology
- The key features of fluid-dynamic cell culture models
- The role of fluid flow for in vitro reliable assays
Additional material received
- MIVO® Single Flow and MIVO® Double Flow for training purpose
- Reagents to be used during experiments training
- Brochures
- Certificate of Participation
Registration link
Course title
Location
Frequency
Duration
Technology
Practical course content
Organ-on-Chip Workshop
Reading, United Kingdom
1 per year
2 days
MIMETAS OrganoPlate® platform
- Handling of cells and extracellular matrix gels for microfluidic devices
- Establishing 3D cultures in the OrganoPlate® (in-gel and perfused tubules)
- Fixation, staining and high-content imaging of 3D cultures using ImageXpress
- Imaging Systems
- Assays and data analysis
Theoretical lectures
- Introduction to Organ-on-a-Chip and the OrganoPlate®
- Key parameters for advanced cell culture models
- Assays and high-content imaging of 3D cultures
- OrganoPlate® platform and applications
Additional material received
N/A
Registration link
No courses for 2024 available yet
Course title
Location
Frequency
Duration
Technology
Practical course content
EUROoCS-Summer School – Organ-on-Chip
Tübingen, Germany (in 2023)
One per year
5 days
Different platforms
- Stem cells and organoids
- Microfabrication
- Sensor and monitoring
- Biomaterials
- In-silico modelling
Theoretical lectures
- Microfabrication
- Sensors, Imaging and omics read-out
- Biomaterials
- Microfluidics and fluid dynamics
- Regulatory processes
- PK/PD modelling
- GCCP (good cell and tissue culture practice)
- Stem Cells and organoids
Additional material received
- Accommodation in shared 4-bed rooms in the youth hostel Tübingen
- Participation in lectures and lab hands-on sessions
- Workshop materials
- Welcome reception
- Coffee breaks and lunches
- Breakfast at the youth hostel
- Social activities
Registration link
No courses for 2024 available yet
Course title
Location
Frequency
Duration
Technology
Practical course content
OrganoStart Packages – E-Learning
Online
On demand (E-Learning)
User led
OrganoPlate by Mimetas
Laboratory (video) tutorials about:
- Handling of cells and extracellular matrix gels for microfluidic devices
- Establishing 3D tissue cultures: in-gel and perfused tubules
- Fixation, staining, and imaging of 3D tissue cultures
- Assays and data analysis
Theoretical lectures
- Introduction to Organ-on-Chip and the OrganoPlate®
- Key parameters for advanced tissue culture models
- Assays and (high content) imaging of 3D tissue cultures
- OrganoPlate® platform and applications
Additional material received
- OrganoPlates
- Consultancy hours with our experts
- Access to the E-learning
Registration link
Course title
Location
Frequency
Duration
Technology
Practical course content
OrganoPlate® Workshop
Oegstgeest, Netherlands
One per month
2 days
OrganoPlate by Mimetas
- Handling of cells and extracellular matrix gels for microfluidic devices
- Establishing 3D tissue cultures: in-gel and perfused tubules
- Fixation, staining, and imaging of 3D tissue cultures
- Assays and data analysis
Theoretical lectures
- Introduction to Organ-on-Chip and the OrganoPlate
- Key parameters for advanced tissue culture models
- Assays and (high content) imaging of 3D tissue cultures
- OrganoPlate platform and applications
Additional material received
- All materials and reagents needed during the workshop (e.g., ECM gel, cells, medium, buffers).
- OrganoPlates
- OrganoFlow® S
- A workshop certificate upon successful completion
Registration link
Course title
Location
Frequency
Duration
Technology
Practical course content
In vitro lung models
Geneva, Switzerland
One per year
2 days
Epithelix in vitro lung models
- Practical use of static and dynamic respiratory in vitro 3D tissues
- Exposure devices to evaluate acute and repeated dose inhalation toxicity
- Efficacy testing
- Lecture 1: Cell culture of 3D ALI lung models
- Lecture 2: Monitoring of Cilia Motion: Cilia Beating Frequency (CBF) and Mucociliary Clearance (MCC), histology and immunostaining of ALI cultures.
- Lecture 3: Treatment with chemicals (Part 2)
- Lecture 4: Lung-on-chip system installation and AX-12 chip
- Lecture 5: Interconnection of human airway epithelia and set-ups for online TEER analysis.
Theoretical lectures
In-depth theoretical lectures
Additional material received
- Participant booklet
- Catering
- Social dinner
Registration link
No courses for 2024 available yet
Course title
Location
Frequency
Duration
Technology
Practical course content
In vitro applied training course
Bratislava, Slovakia
One per year
5 days
Different for platforms
- Hands-on training I: In vitro gastro-intestinal toxicity testing with 3D models
- Hands-on training II: In vitro eye irritation testing with 3D cornea models
- Hands-on training III: Introduction into the microfluidic work
- Hands-on training IV: Vitrocell system for inhalation toxicity testing
Theoretical lectures
- European legislative framework and international guidelines for in vitro toxicity testing of chemicals
- Use and validation of 3R-alternative methods in Europe
- In vitro methods for assessing cytotoxicity, skin sensitization, skin/eye/lung/intestinal irritation/corrosion, immunotoxicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity
- Development and application of cell lines, organ-specific models, tridimensional models, bioreactors and stem cell models in in vitro toxicology
- Use of “omics”-based methods in in vitro toxicology
- Good cell culture practice
- In vitro kinetics and in vitro-in vivo extrapolation
- In vitro aspects of pathway-based toxicology
- In vitro models used in the field of nanotoxicology
Additional material received
- Course notes and other materials (presentation, materials used in hands-up training etc)
- Coffee breaks, lunches, get-together event
- One social event (usually dinner in a restaurant and city tour)
Registration link
No courses for 2024 available yet
Course title
Location
Frequency
Duration
Technology
Practical course content
Dynamic42 Academy
Jena, Germany
Several per year
2 days
Dynamic42 organ-on-chip technology
- Sterilization and coating of biochips
- Seeding of cells in biochips
- Perfusion set-up with all necessary microfluidic parts
- Medium exchange and sampling of organ model
- Imaging of models via Immunofluorescence with different antibodies
- Seeding of endothelial cells in biochips
- Cleaning of biochip equipment
- Troubleshooting of experiments
- Medium exchange on static biochips
- Permeability assays
Theoretical lectures
- Theoretical lecture on organ-on-chip technology by our CEO Dr. Martin Raasch
Additional material received
- Certificate
- Protocols
- Lunch
- Dinner
Registration link
Summary
We understand that 9 is still quite a long list, so below we try to filter courses according to certain criteria to make the decision even easier for you.
Within the description of each course, you will have noticed that not all courses have listed a session for 2024 yet. In fact, only 5 of the 9 courses offer available dates for 2024:
AZAR Innovations – Organ on a chip MasterClass – Lectures and hands-on training
REACT4LIFE – Organ-on-chips workshop
MIMETAS – OrganoPlate® Workshop
MIMETAS – OrganoStart Packages – E-Learning
Dynamic42 – Dynamic42 Academy
Of those only 4 happen in person:
AZAR Innovations – Organ on a chip MasterClass – Lectures and hands-on training
REACT4LIFE – Organ-on-chips workshop
MIMETAS – OrganoPlate® Workshop
Dynamic42 – Dynamic42 Academy
And of those, only 3 are strictly for organ-on-chip technology:
AZAR Innovations – Organ on a chip MasterClass – Lectures and hands-on training
MIMETAS – OrganoPlate® Workshop
Dynamic42 – Dynamic42 Academy
Of the 3 remaining ones, the course by AZAR Innovations will allow you to work on a range of different biochips, whereas the course offered by MIMETAS and Dynamic42 aim to provide in depth training in the use of their technology.
We also would like to add that we did aim to provide a list of courses world-wide. However, most identified course are based in Europe, only workshops offered by AZAR Innovations do happen outside of Europe on occasion. Should you have any specific training needs at your facility, feel free to get in touch with us, and we can talk about organizing a workshop onside.
So here you have it, a comprehensive list of organ-on-chip courses for 2024 to help you get started with your organ-on-chip journey.
Should you have any additional question or would like to add information to this list, please do get in touch.
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