UniStem Day 2025

Ever wondered how scientists work with cells that can become so many different types? In this workshop, you'll explore iPS cells (short for induced pluripotent stem cells) and learn a key lab technique: passaging these cells by keeping them in clumps. Join UNISTEM scientists to pick up essential lab skills and see how everyday methods lead to exciting scientific insights. You'll also discover the practical role of cell culture in research, gaining a clear view of how basic techniques support a wide range of scientific studies.

Workshop Leaders:

Virginia Turati, Associate Researcher, Stem Cell Regulators Research Group

Ineke de Jong, Research Engineer, Stem Cell Regulators Research Group

Neuroblastoma is one of the most common childhood cancers, usually affecting children under 5 years of age. During this workshop, students will learn how working with chicken embryos can help us to understand the mechanisms of neuroblastoma. They will be working with fertilized chicken eggs, learning how to open the eggs to see the embryos inside under the microscope. At this stage, a chick embryo is very similar to a human one, and they will have the possibility to see embryos at different developmental stages.

Workshop Leaders:

Emma Haxen, PhD student, Molecular Evolution Research Group
Anja Zethraeus, Master student, Molecular Physiology Research Group
Marina Mazariegos, Lab Engineer, Molecular Physiology Research Group

Have you ever wondered how scientists are able to study human stem cells in the mouse brain? In this workshop students will learn and practice how to transplant cells (mock injections) inside the brain (gelatine brains), they will practice the process of cutting a brain in thin slices, mark the proteins of different cell types using specific antibodies that recognize them and mount the sliced sections on slides to visualize them under the microscope. For each step, students will first get a short introduction and later they will be able to practice the techniques. They will be encouraged to ask questions along the workshop.

Workshop Leaders:

Sara Palma-Tortosa, Postdoctoral researcher, Laboratory of Stem Cells and Restorative Neurology 

Raquel Martínez-Curiel, PhD Student, Laboratory of Stem Cells and Restorative Neurology 

Yu-Ping Shen, PhD Student, Laboratory of Stem Cells and Restorative Neurology  

Linda Jansson, Research Engineer, Laboratory of Stem Cells and Restorative Neurology 

Jonas Fritze, Postdoctoral Researcher, Stem Cells, Aging and Neurodegeneration Research Group  

Laura Robles-Rodriguez, Postdoctoral Researcher, Stem Cells, Aging and Neurodegeneration Research Group

Alicja Krawczun-Rygmaczewska, Postdoctoral Researcher, Stem Cells, Aging and Neurodegeneration Research Group

Enrico Pracucci, Postdoctoral Researcher, Stem Cells, Aging and Neurodegeneration Research Group

Oskar Zetterdahl, PhD student,Stem Cells, Aging and Neurodegeneration Research Group

Francesco Trovato,Postdoctoral Researcher, Stem Cells, Aging and Neurodegeneration Research Group

Salamanders are amazing animals that after injuries are able to regrow entire limbs, tails, parts of their brains, and more. How these animals perform such feats is still not understood. We will take a peek at these animals under the microscope, looking at them during embryonic growth, since they develop completely outside their mothers. If we are lucky, these animals may also have fluorescent protein expression, so they will glow!

Workshop Leaders:

Marlene Oesterle, PhD Student, Regenerative Immunology Research Group

Ameneh Ghaffarinia, Postdoctoral Researcher, Regenerative Immunology Research Group

Dhanuush Balakannan, Postdoctoral Researcher, Regenerative Immunology Research Group

Elsa Görsch, Postdoctoral Researcher, Regenerative Immunology Research Group

Chimezie Harrison Umeano, PhD student, Regenerative Immunology Research Group

Milicia Dimitrijevic, Student, Regenerative Immunology Research Group

Selin Yalman, Visiting Research Fellow, Regenerative Immunology Research Group

Ugonna Chidiebere Okeke, Research Technician, Regenerative Immunology Research Group

Nikhilesh Vasanthakumar, Master's Student, Regenerative Immunology Research Group

The human brain is three times larger than that of our closest living relatives, the chimpanzees. However, the changes leading to this size increase are poorly understood. In our workshop, we will show you how to grow and use human and monkey 'mini brains' in a dish to study brain evolution. You will gain first-hand experience in analyzing them using new sequencing techniques.

Workshop Leaders:

Patricia Gerdes, Postdoctoral Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics

Vivien Horvath, Postdoctoral Researcher,  Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics

Ofelia Karlsson, PhD Student,  Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics

It is quite surprising what a human and a worm has in common. In this workshop you will look through the microscope to meet these tiny creatures who help us to research how cells develop. You will learn some essential laboratory skills that we as scientists use everyday, like using a pipette, centrifuge and microscope.

Workshop Leaders:

Johanna Farley, PhD Student, Extracellular Signalling and Cell Fate Research Group

I denna workshop kommer studenterna göra stegen som krävs för att genotypa knockout-möss som används i vår stamcellsforskning. Efter en kort introduktion får studenterna göra sin egen gel, ladda DNA-prover och köra elektroforesen. De kommer också få undersöka en gel där DNA är separerat för att försöka bestämma vilka prover som kommer från vanliga möss, heterozygoter eller knockout-möss.

Workshop Leaders:

Julia Sjöberg, PhD Student, Stem Cell Regulators Research Group

Anna Rydström, Research Engineer,  Stem Cell Regulators Research Group

Upptäck hur virus kan bli livräddare! I den här workshopen får du lära dig hur forskare omvandlar virus till kraftfulla verktyg för att bota genetiska sjukdomar. Vi visar dig hur virus produceras i laboratoriet och hur de används i genterapier för att behandla patienter. Du kommer också att få förbereda ett DNA-prov som används för att skapa ett riktigt virus som kan modifiera blodstamceller.

Workshop Leaders:

Tyra Bremborg, PhD Student, Stem Cell Regulators Research Group

Hanna Eriksson, PhD Student, Stem Cell Regulators Research Group

How do you know that the cells you are working with are actually what you think they are? Cells are transparent, and do not show all their differences, when you look at them in a light microscope. Labelling targets on cells with different fluorescent colors, enables us to distinguish cell types from each other, detect functional changes and separate one cell population from another. It can also help you find that very, rare, cell that you are looking for. Be your own cell sorter, and image the colorful, hidden world of cells!

Workshop Leaders:

Anna Hammarberg, Research Engineer,Multipark Flow Cytometry and High Content Imaging Core Facility

Emily Johansson, Assistant Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics

Our bones possess  incredible regenerative properties. However, some severe accidents may require a little help to fix them. To do so, we, scientists, have developed new techniques to grow bones in the lab. We use a bioreactor as advanced device in which stem cells can develop and form a 3D tissue. This system is essential to recreate the right environment for bone to grow, mimicking what is naturally happening in the body. Once generated, bone tissue can be transplanted in the patient and help them heal. During this workshop, you will learn how stem cells can be harnessed to form bone tissue, and how bioreactors create the conditions for their development.

Workshop Leaders:

Aurelie Baudet-Quintino, Postdoctoral Researcher, Bone Organ Modelling and Regeneration Research Group

Sara Gonzalez Anton, Postdoctoral Researcher, Bone Organ Modelling and Regeneration Research Group

Alejandro Garcia Garcia, Postdoctoral Researcher, Bone Organ Modelling and Regeneration Research Group

Cells can be manipulated into different cell types using the appropriate reagents. Skin cells (fibroblasts) can be transformed to stem cells and then be differentiation into neurons. Researchers are now looking at whether transplanted neurons survive in the brains of patients, and whether they can replace the function of nerve cells lost in patients in the long term. Join us for the journey of the production process of a cell therapy, where you will take skin cells, transform them in stem cells, transplant them in brains and see what type of neurons are created.

Workshop Leaders:

Daniel Twohig, Postdoctoral Researcher, Neural Stem Cells Research Group

Jana Bonsberger, PhD student, Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology Research Group

Maria Tsalkitzidou, PhD student, Neural Stem Cells Research Group

Donna, an independent hotelier, is preparing for her daughter Sophie’s wedding. Meanwhile Sophie, the spirited bride, has a plan. She invites three men, one of whom is her biological father, from her mother's past in hopes of unveiling him. Mamma Mia! Become a forensic scientist and help Sophie do a genetic test on all three men to uncover who the father is!

Workshop Leaders:

Nejc Arh, PhD Student, Cell Reprogramming in Hematopoiesis and Immunity Research Group

Abigail Altman, PhD Student, Cell Reprogramming in Hematopoiesis and Immunity Research Group

Rita Sousa Silva, PhD Student, Cell Reprogramming in Hematopoiesis and Immunity Research Group

Malavika Nair, Research Project Assistant, Cell Reprogramming in Hematopoiesis and Immunity Research Group

Camila Vazquez Echegaray, Postdoctoral Researcher, Cell Reprogramming in Hematopoiesis and Immunity Research Group

We will shortly talk about the reprogramming of human skin biopsies to the induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), gene editing technologies, quality control of the cell lines, and the applications of these cells in the research and therapy. The students will be involved in activities in the cell lab and wet lab, if they’d like to. 

Workshop Leaders:

Claudia De Guidi, Technician, Cell and Gene Therapy Core Facility
Pia Johansson, Director, Cell and Gene Therapy Core Facility

Discover how stem cells can transform into neurons that communicate through tiny electrical signals. Electrophysiology, a fascinating and advanced technique, helps scientists understand how individual neurons or entire networks work. In this workshop, you'll learn about the patch-clamp method, a gold-standard tool that lets us study how neurons "talk" to each other. Join our team of scientists and actively participate in preparing a patch-clamp experiment. You’ll even get to see and record the electrical signals neurons use to send messages!

Workshop Leaders:

Claire Piochon, Research Engineer, Electrophysiology Core Facility

Jenny Wickham, Research Engineer and Facility Manager, Electrophysiology Core Facility

Efrain Cepeda-Prado, Postdoctoral Researcher, Regenerative Neurophysiology Research Group 

Gianluigi Nocera, Postdoctoral Researcher, Regenerative Neurophysiology Research Group 

Constanza Aretio, PhD student, Regenerative Neurophysiology Research Group 

What makes each cell in our body unique? How can researchers distinguish between different brain cells? This hands-on workshop combines biology and programming to show how scientists use computational models to understand life at the molecular level. Here, you will learn how to the activation of different genes defines the identity of brain cells and how to use basic R scripts to simulate gene regulation in different environments.

Workshop Leaders:

Edoardo Sozzi, PhD Student, Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology Research Group

Samuela Pasculli, Student, Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology Research Group

Is it possible to grow a brain in a dish? Find out in our workshop, where you will learn what stem cells are, and how we can use them to generate brain cells for our studies. Inside a real laboratory, you will also help us grow some cells by feeding them with fresh media, and check how they’re doing, in the same way we do every day. 

Workshop Leaders:

Andreas Bruzelius, Postdoctoral Researcher, Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology Research Group

Christina Anastasia Stamouli, PhD Student,Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology Research Group

We will explore how transplanted cells survive and grow in the brain by visualization with color-coupled specific reactions in brain slices and taking a closer look under the microscope. You will have the chance to have hands-on practice with cutting brain slices, visualize human cells in the rat brain with histology, and explore the cells under the lens of different microscopes with advanced technologies such as 3D imaging.

Workshop Leaders:

Sara Corsi, Postdoctoral Researcher, Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology Research Group 

Ulla Jarl, Biomedical Analyst, Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology Research Group

Bengt Mattsson, Imaging and Microscope Expert, Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology Research Group

Ever wondered how scientists unlock the brain’s healing power? Join us for an exciting journey into cutting-edge research where neural stem cells are used to treat brain disorders like Parkinson’s disease. You'll explore how researchers model neurodegenerative diseases in animals, how to assess neural stem cell survival, immune responses, and behavioral recovery and why transplanting cells into the brain could revolutionize treatments.

Workshop Leaders:

Mette Habekost, Postdoctoral Fellow, Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology Research Group

Michael Sparrenius, Technical Staff, Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology Research Group

María García Garrote, Postdoctoral Fellow, Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology Research Group

A mysterious creature is on the loose in Lund, attacking students and leaving behind eerie traces of its presence. Scientists have collected blood samples from the scene and extracted DNA, hoping to uncover the truth. Now, students will take on the role of forensic detectives—preparing the DNA for sequencing and decoding the results. Their mission? To identify the species of the elusive beast and reveal the victim’s identity.

Workshop Leaders:

Joan Escrivà Font, doctoral student, Systems Immunology Research Group

Tianze Cao, doctoral student, Systems Immunology Research Group

Did you know all your cells have the same genome, the same DNA sequence? But wait! What is the mystery behind different cells in the body then? What makes a brain cell different from a heart cell, or from a muscle cell? It’s all to do with how DNA is packaged and modified - the so-called ‘epigenome’. Dive into the intriguing world of epigenetics with us and together, let’s figure out how one genome can make all the cell types of a human body!

Workshop Leaders:

Fereshteh Dorazehi, PhD Student, Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Research Group 

Agnes Ong, Postdoctoral Researcher,  Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Research Group

Caterina Francesconi, Postdoctoral Researcher, Epigenetics and Chromatin Dynamics Research Group 

Join us for an exciting workshop where you'll discover how scientists study lung tissue to unlock the secrets of health and disease! Get hands-on experience with the fascinating process of lung tissue slice preparation and see the intricate structures inside the lungs up close under a microscope. Explore how healthy lungs differ from diseased ones and learn how this knowledge helps advance medical research.

Workshop Leaders:

Runchuan Gu, PhD Student, Translational Lung Transplantation and Lung Cell Therapy Research Group

Qi Wang, PhD Student, Translational Lung Transplantation and Lung Cell Therapy Research Group

Franziska Olm, Postdoctoral Researcher, Translational Lung Transplantation and Lung Cell Therapy Research Group

Nicholas Bèchet, Postdoctoral Researcher, Translational Lung Transplantation and Lung Cell Therapy Research Group

Cells are the building blocks of all organ, with each organ having its own cells. When we have diseases such as lung cancer or other such diseases then these building blocks are affected first. Hence in our research we look inside these cells to find out what exactly is going wrong and then find a way to fix it. In the workshop you will experience working with lung cancer cells and observing them under the microscope.   

Workshop Leader:

Pavan Prabhala, Post doctoral researcher, Stem cell and Cancer stem cell Regulation Research Group