The world of biomedical and neuroscience research in Sumatera is now more open with the Cell Culture Seminar and Workshop entitled “1st Nuclebions Course: Numerous Utilization of Cell Lines in Biomedical and Neuroscience Studies”. This activity took place from July 25 to 28, 2024 at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) Biomedical Research Center in Medan, Indonesia (UBRC) and was attended by researchers and professionals in the field of biomedicine and neuroscience from within and outside the country.
This activity was organized by FK UMSU in collaboration with the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO). The event aimed to broaden participants’ understanding of the various applications of cultured cells in biomedical and neuroscience studies, as well as introduce the latest techniques that can be applied in research.
During the four-day event, participants attended various sessions that included seminars and workshops on cell culture. The speakers provided participants with their knowledge and experience in the field of neuroscience and cell research. Some of the main topics covered in the seminars included:
- Cellular Model of Neuroblastoma by Asami Oguro-Ando, Ph.D, England
- Human cell line models to study neurodegenerative disease and neuroinflammation by Kim de Kleijn, The Netherlands
- Real-Time PCR by Ariestya Indah Permata Sari, MD. Ph.D, Indonesia
- Drug discovery and understanding the disease mechanism of brain disorders especially epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease by Mohmad Farooq Shaikk, Ph.D, Malaysia
- Exploring Differentiated Cholinergic Cells Co-Culture for Glioblastoma: A bridge from Bedside to Bench for signature diagnostics and therapeutic Biomarker by Muhamad Noor Alfarizal Kamarudin, Ph.D, Malaysia
- Various Proteomic technique in biomedical science by Syafiq Asnawi, Ph.D, Malaysia
- Fundamental of cell culture (workshop) by Zukhrofi Muzar MD. Ph.D
- Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) (workshop) by Dr Yulia MSc
In the workshop sessions, participants were introduced to the latest techniques in cell culture development and maintenance that can improve research results. Participants were given the opportunity to conduct cell culture experiments with expert guidance, including media preparation, thawing, seeding, and cell counting techniques. The workshop also covered PBMC isolation and RNA isolation from PBMCs.
During the event, there were many opportunities for discussion and networking between participants. This included Q&A sessions and research consultations with the speakers, wherethey discussed the challenges and opportunities in cell culture research.
At the closing of the workshop, the organizers expressed their hope that participants could utilize the knowledge and skills gained to expand their research and contribute to the advancement of science. With the spirit of collaboration and innovation, Nuclebions hopes that this event will serve as a stepping stone for the development of biomedical and neuroscience research in Indonesia, particularly in the Sumatera region.
