Human Embryonic Stem Cell Culture Training Process

The Yale Stem Cell Center is pleased to offer training for investigators in the State of Connecticut (CT) who have extensive cell culture experience but are not yet experienced in handling human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The hESC Core will provide training and ongoing support in thawing, maintenance, expansion, differentiation, and cryopreservation of the hESCs.

Training Requirements:

Yale investigators who are interested in being trained in the hESC Core Facility must complete the following requirements:

1. Review of the Yale Provost's policy on hESC Research.
2. Be an approved investigator on an approved Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight (ESCRO) protocol.
3. Complete the training required by the ESCRO Committee. Training and Certification at Yale.
4. Complete the training required by the Stem Cell Research Resource Allocation Protocol (SCRRAP) Committee. Training and Certification at Yale.
5. Submit a “Request for hESC Culture Training” form.

Investigators from other institutions must provide evidence of ESCRO approval/training from their home institutions and submit a “Request for hESC Culture Training” form.

Prioritization of Training Requests

The number of individuals who can be trained at one time is limited to four. After fulfilling the above requirements, investigators will be assigned training slots by priority based on the following criteria: 1) Yale recipients of CT Stem Cell Research Awards, 2) CT-wide recipients of CT Stem Cell Research Awards, 3) Other Yale stem cell research investigators, 4) Other CT-wide stem cell research investigators, and 5) Other professionals.

Training Schedules and Fees

The hESC Culture training course is a 2.5-day course and is offered 5 days per week from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Consideration will be given for special requests to modify training times.

Fees for the hESC Culture training course are charged on a per person basis. Each PI who is the recipient of a CT Stem Cell Research Award will be provided with free training for two trainees. Subsequent charges will be $325 per trainee. The fee for trainees who do not have a CT Stem Cell Research Award is $750 per trainee.

Course fees include all training supplies needed to develop hESC lines. The new lines that are grown during training will remain the property of the hESC Core upon completion of the training.