Edit
Techniques for mammary gland research – Course and Conference Office

EMBO Practical Course

Techniques for mammary gland research

Overview

Please see EMBL’s COVID-19 safety policy for testing and other requirements to attend this on-site course.

Course overview

The mammary epithelium is a unique organ in that the majority of its development occurs postnatally. This, combined with ease of experimental access and a stereotypical growth pattern, make it an ideal tissue for studying cellular homeostasis, branching morphogenesis, hormonal effects, stem cell biology and breast cancer. This theoretical and practical course will present techniques for the dissection and dissociation of different subpopulations of both mouse and human mammary cells, including stem/progenitor cells. It will also include flow cytometry to separate single cell populations for the consequent in vitro (mammosphere and 3D cultures) and in vivo (mouse mammary fat-pad clearing and cell transplantation) analysis to assess stem cell activity and gene function.

Audience

This course targets PhD students, post-docs and other scientists entering the field of mammary gland biology and breast cancer or those who wish to complement their knowledge using mouse or human methods.

Modules/ resources

  • Introduction to mouse and human mammary gland biology, including experimental techniques (e.g. histology, mammosphere cultures, imaging)
  • Fat pad clearing and transplantations (mouse, demonstration and hands-on)
  • Mammary gland harvest and Carmine staining (mouse, demonstration and hands-on)
  • Mammary gland digestion and 2D/3D culture (mouse, demonstration and hands-on)
  • FACS staining/analysis (mouse and human, demonstration and hands-on)
  • Intraductal injections (mouse, demonstration and hands-on)

Learning outcomes

The participants will learn about the complete workflow for mammary gland studies and gain an understanding about possibilities and limitations of working with mouse and human systems.

Speakers

Keynote speaker

Jane Visvader

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

Australia

(Virtual Speaker)

Speakers, trainers, and staff

Maria dM Vivanco

CIC bioGUNE – Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences

Spain

Scientific organisers

Maria dM Vivanco

CIC bioGUNE – Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences

Spain

Course organisers

Programme

Got something to say? Tweet it! #EMBOMammaryGland

  • Some pre-course work (such as watching pre-recordings, protocol reading and computational exercises) with estimated time 0-10 hours may be required and if so, will be shared in advance of the course.
  • Some speakers may need to join virtually to give their lecture or Q&A, and the programme is subject to change.
Day 1 – Sunday 5 March 2023
Time (Europe/Berlin)Session and speakersLocation
15:30 – 16:00RegistrationISG Hotel
16:00 – 16:15Welcome and house notes

EMBL Course and Conference Office Team
ISG Hotel
16:15 – 17:00Course Overview

María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
ISG Hotel
17:00 – 19:30Presentations

Short talks by participants (4 mins each)
ISG Hotel
19:30 – 20:30DinnerISG Hotel restaurant
20:30 – 21:00Networking and drinksISG Hotel restaurant
Day 2 – Monday 6 March 2023
Time (Europe/Berlin)Session and speakersLocation
08:40Bus departure from ISG Hotel to EMBL Heidelberg
ISG Hotel entrance
09:00 – 09:10Overview of the day

María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
Courtyard Room A & B
09:10 – 09:20Introduction to lab safety

EMBL Course and Conference Office Team
Courtyard Room A & B
09:20 – 10:00Lecture 1: Introduction to mouse mammary
gland techniques


Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Courtyard Room A & B
10:00 – 10:40Lecture 2: Introduction to human mammary gland

María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Courtyard Room A & B
10:40 – 12:40Practical session 1: Demo mammary fat pad clearing

Richard Iggo – Bordeaux Institute of Oncology, France
Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
Training Lab A & B
12:40 – 13:40Lunch EMBL Canteen
13:40 – 14:25Lecture 3: FACS introduction

María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Courtyard Room A & B
14:25 – 15:55Practical Session 2: Mammary gland harvest for Carmine stain and overnight digestion for FACS & 3D culture

Richard Iggo – Bordeaux Institute of Oncology, France
Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
Training Lab A & B
15:55 – 16:10Coffee break
Courtyard Room A & B
16:10 – 17:40Practical Session 2: Mammary gland harvest for Carmine stain and overnight digestion (continuation)

Richard Iggo – Bordeaux Institute of Oncology, France
Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
Training Lab A & B
17:40 – 18:10Practical discussion with discussion leader

Richard Iggo – Bordeaux Institute of Oncology, France
Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Courtyard Room A & B
18:10 – 19:10Organisation of the grant writing exercise

María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
Courtyard Room A & B
19:10 – 20:10DinnerEMBL ATC Rooftop Lounge
20:10 – 22:10Poster session 1 (odd numbers)Helix B near the EMBL ATC Rooftop Lounge
22:15Bus departure from EMBL Heidelberg to ISG HotelEMBL ATC Entrance
Day 3 – Tuesday 7 March 2023
Time (Europe/Berlin)Session and speakersLocation
08:40Bus departure from ISG Hotel to EMBL HeidelbergISG Hotel
09:00 – 09:10Overview of the day

María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
Courtyard Room A & B
09:10 – 10:25Virtual Lecture 4: Keynote lecture on Stem cells, mammary gland development and breast cancer

Jane Visvader (VIRTUAL SPEAKER) – The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Australia
Courtyard Room A & B
10:25 – 12:10Practical session 3: Digest organoids to single cells and seeding on 2D

Philip Mbonu – MOLIT Institute, Germany
María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
Training Lab A & B
12:10 – 13:10LunchEMBL Canteen
13:10 – 13:55Lecture 5: FACS analysis for practicals

María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Courtyard Room A & B
13:55 – 15:55Practical session 4: Mouse stain for FACS

Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
Diana Ordonez – EMBL Heidelberg, Germany

Practical Session 5: Human staining for ALDH and FACS


María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Training Lab A & B
15:55 – 16:05Coffee break
Courtyard Room A & B
16:05 – 18:05Practical session 4: Mouse stain for FACS (continued)

Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
Diana Ordonez – EMBL Heidelberg, Germany

Practical session 5:
Human staining for ALDH and FACS (continued)

María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Training Lab A & B
18:05 – 19:05Lecture 6: MIND intro

Richard Iggo – Bordeaux Institute of Oncology, France
Courtyard Room A & B
19:05 – 19:35Practical discussion with discussion leader

Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Courtyard Room A & B
19:35 – 20:35DinnerEMBL Canteen
20:45Bus departure from EMBL Heidelberg to ISG HotelEMBL ATC Entrance
Day 4 – Wednesday 8 March 2023
Time (Europe/Berlin)Session and speakersLocation
08:40Bus departure from ISG Hotel to EMBL HeidelbergISG Hotel
09:00 – 09:10Overview of the day

María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
Courtyard Room A & B
09:10 – 11:10Practical session 6: Seeding 3D cultures

Philip Mbonu – MOLIT Institute, Germany
María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany

Practical session 7: MIND practicals and Mammary gland Carmine processing


Richard Iggo – Bordeaux Institute of Oncology, France Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
Training Lab A & B
11:10 – 11:20Group photoMeet at Courtyard Room A & B
11:20 – 13:20Practical session 6: Seeding 3D cultures (continued)

Philip Mbonu – MOLIT Institute, Germany
María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany

Practical session 7: MIND practicals and Mammary gland Carmine processing (continued)


Richard Iggo – Bordeaux Institute of Oncology, France Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
Training Lab A & B
13:20 – 14:20Lunch EMBL Canteen
14:20 – 14:50Lecture 7: 3D cultures

Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
Courtyard Room A & B
14:50 – 15:20Lecture 8: Mammosphere cultures

María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Courtyard Room A & B
15:20 – 15:50Coffee breakCourtyard Room A & B
15:50 – 16:20Practical discussion with discussion leaders

Richard Iggo – Bordeaux Institute of Oncology, France Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
Training Lab A & B
16:20 – 17:20Group activity: Group work on grant writingCourtyard Room A & B
17:20 – 19:20Poster session 2 (even numbers)Helix B near the EMBL ATC Rooftop Lounge
19:20 – 20:20DinnerEMBL Canteen
20:35Bus departure from EMBL Heidelberg to ISG HotelATC Entrance
Day 5 – Thursday 9 March 2023
Time (Europe/Berlin)Session and speakersLocation
08:40Bus departure from ISG Hotel to EMBL HeidelbergISG Hotel entrance
09:10 – 09:55Lecture 9: Lecture on tumour histology

Matt Smalley (VIRTUAL SPEAKER) – Cardiff University, UK
Courtyard Room A & B
09:55 – 11:25Practical session 8: Mounting Carmine / Analysing group work on grant writing

Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
Training Lab A & B
11:25 – 12:10Lecture 10: Imaging

Bethan Lloyd-Lewis – University of Bristol, UK
Courtyard Room A & B
12:10 – 12:40Lecture 11: Microscopy

Stefan Terjung – EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
Courtyard Room A & B
12:40 – 13:10LunchCourtyard Room A & B
13:10 – 13:40Lecture 12: SPIM imaging

Malte Wachsmuth – Bruker and Luxendo, Germany
Courtyard Room A & B
13:40 – 17:10Practical Session 9: SPIM

Malte Wachsmuth – Bruker and Luxendo, Germany
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany

Practical Session 10: Continuation analysis and discussion

María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Richard Iggo – Bordeaux Institute of Oncology, France

Group activity: Group work on grant writing

ALMF facility tour
Training Lab A & B
13:40 – 17:10Coffee break available throughout rotationsCourtyard Room A & B
13:40 – 17:10Rotations continued.

Practical Session 9: SPIM

Malte Wachsmuth – Bruker and Luxendo, Germany
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany

Practical Session 10: Continuation analysis and discussion

María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Richard Iggo – Bordeaux Institute of Oncology, France

Group activity: Group work on grant writing

ALMF facility tour
Training Lab A & B
17:10 – 18:50Presentation of the group projects
Courtyard Room A & B
18:55 – 19:05Bus departure from EMBL Heidelberg to ISG HotelEMBL ATC Entrance
19:05 – 19:20Time at ISG Hotel to drop personal items/changeISG Hotel
19:20Bus to city centreISG Hotel entrance
19:45Final course dinnerOskar restaurant
Taxis back to the ISG hotel after dinnerCity centre
Day 6 – Friday 10 March 2023
Time (Europe/Berlin)Session and speakersLocation
08:40Bus from hotel to EMBL ATC EntranceISG Hotel
09:00 – 09:10Overview of the day

María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
Courtyard Room A & B
09:10 – 10:40Practical Session 11: Analyzing and photographing 3D cultures, wrap up carmine staining analysis if needed

María dM Vivanco – CIC bioGUNE, Spain
Renée van Amerongen – University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martin Jechlinger – EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
Richard Iggo – Bordeaux Institute of Oncology, France
Training Lab A & B
10:40 – 11:10Group activity: Results of grant writing projectsCourtyard Room A & B
11:10 – 12:10Final panel discussion: Analysis, troubleshooting for projects with trainers, wrap upCourtyard Room A & B
12:10 – 13:10LunchEMBL Canteen
13:30 – 14:00Bus departure to Heidelberg main train station & city centreEMBL ATC Entrance

Practical information

Registration fees and motivation letter

The course is limited to 20 participants. For selection purposes, please note that your application will not be considered without a letter of motivation.

Registration

Registration fees include admission, course materials, COVID-19 safety measures, meals and coffee breaks. This EMBO course includes accommodation and transportation to and from the ISG Hotel to the venue.

Academia€500
PhD Student€500
Industry€1000

NO visa support letters will be issued until payment of the registration fee is confirmed.

Confirmation and payment

The registration fee should be paid only after acceptance to the course. The results will be announced approximately 2-3 weeks after the application deadline.

Motivation letter submission

After you have logged in and successfully registered, you will receive an email asking you to submit your motivation letter. Click on the link provided and enter your motivation letter in the text box provided. Alternatively you can submit your motivation letter by clicking on the link on the confirmation page directly after registering.

Instructions

  1. Include your relevant skills, experience and qualifications showing why you would be suitable for the course.
  2. Explain why you would like to attend, including what you can contribute and how you think you will benefit from the course.

Please note:

  • The limit of 2000 characters refers to manually typed text and excludes spaces. If an error occurs try using a different web browser (preferably Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox).
  • If you copy-paste the text into the form, hidden formatting might still be included which may cause the text to exceed the 2,000 character limit resulting in an error message. We recommend you clear all formatting before pasting in the text.
  • If you have special symbols in your text, make sure you are using Unicode characters, otherwise these will not be recognised.

For detailed instructions, please watch our video on how to submit a course motivation letter.

Further details

For further information about registration and motivation letter submission please refer to the FAQ page.

Financial assistance

Financial assistance

Limited financial assistance is provided by the EMBL Advanced Training Centre Corporate Partnership Programme and EMBO in the form of both registration fee waivers and travel grants. Availability is limited to participants attending on-site EMBL Courses and virtual or on-site EMBO Practical Courses in Heidelberg, and will be indicated during the motivation letter submission process.

Your place in the course is only confirmed by paying the registration fee, which is mandatory even when receiving a fee waiver.

Registration fee waiver

The fee waiver will cover the registration sum that you have paid to attend the course.

Travel grant

The travel grant will cover the cost of travel (airfare, train, bus, taxi, accommodation, visa, and/or registration fees*) and is provided up to specified caps which are normally as follows:

– up to €400 for participants travelling to an EMBL Course within Europe.

– up to €1000 for participants travelling to an EMBL Course from outside Europe.

– up to €500 for any participant travelling to an EMBO Practical Course.

– up to €1000 for any participant working in Chile, India, Singapore or Taiwan travelling to an EMBO Practical Course.

– up to €700 for any participant working in Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovenia, and Turkey travelling to an EMBO Practical Course.

*Registration fees are only covered for EMBO Practical Courses

The organisers may reduce the grant cap to accommodate more participants. Recipients will be notified of their travel cap amount when they are informed of the outcome of their application. Original receipts must be provided with your signature for all costs incurred within two months of completion of travel. Scanned copies cannot be accepted.

Childcare grant (EMBO Practical Courses only)

For EMBO Practical Course participants with children, there is the possibility to apply for a childcare grant to offset child care costs incurred by participants or speakers when participating at a course. Eligible costs include fees for a babysitter or child-care facility, travel costs for a caregiver, or travel costs for taking the child to the meeting etc. Please note that priority will be given to early-stage researchers. A maximum amount of €500 can be awarded per participant applying for an EMBO childcare grant. 

Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds travel grant

Applies to selected courses only. Availability will be indicated during the motivation letter submission process.

This grant covers costs related to your attendance at the course (registration, travel and accommodation costs). The grant is restricted to PhD students and postdocs who conduct basic biomedical research.

Whether you are eligible to apply for a travel grant, depends on when you received your university entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur, A-Levels, High School Diploma, Final State Examination):

– for PhD and MD students, as well as graduates, the university entrance qualification must not have been obtained more than 11 years ago at the time of the envisaged course

– for postdocs, the university entrance qualification must not have been obtained more than 13 years ago at the time of the envisaged course

Application

You may apply for financial assistance when submitting your motivation letter for courses. In your application, you will be asked to answer questions regarding why your lab cannot fund your attendance and how your attendance will make a difference to your career. Application for financial support will not affect the outcome of your registration application.

For the Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds Travel Grant, there is a pre-application question during the motivation letter submission process, and if selected you will be requested to complete a standard form and documentation consisting of your travel expense estimation.

Selection

The scientific organisers will select the recipients of all financial assistance during the motivation letter selection process. Results will be announced approximately 6-8 weeks before the event start date, however for some events this may be delayed. Selection results do not impact your admission to the course. Selection is based on scientific merit, your current work or study location, the reasons for needing financial support, and the impact this event will have on your career.

Reimbursement

Costs will be reimbursed after the meeting only once a reimbursement form and original receipts (from travel costs) have been received.

Further details

See our list of external funding opportunities and for further information about financial assistance please refer to the FAQ page.

Accommodation and shuttles

Hotel

The registration fee includes accommodation for 5 nights (checking in 5 March 2023, checking out 10 March 2023) at the ISG Hotel in a single room, including breakfast. Any additional nights need to be booked and paid for by you to the hotel. We recommend that all course participants stay at the ISG Hotel, which is the dedicated hotel for the course.

Local transport

Shuttle buses will go from the ISG Hotel to EMBL and back, mornings and evenings. A bus schedule and location of the bus stops will be made available prior to the meeting.

Further details

Address: EMBL Heidelberg, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany

For further information on getting to EMBL Heidelberg visit our Travel Information page.

For enquiries about accommodation and local transportation please refer to the FAQ page.

Event software

Event software

The EMBL eCampus learning platform will be used to collaborate, communicate and network with all of the course participants. All participants will receive information on how to join shortly before the course. We recommend using Chrome, Safari or Mozilla Firefox browsers for eCampus. 

Additional information

Please find additional information including FAQs, terms and conditions, COVID-19 safety policy and travelling to EMBL on our Information for Participants page.

COVID-19 related questions

COVID-19 information for on-site events at EMBL Heidelberg can be found in our COVID-19 FAQs.

Sponsors

Event supporter:

Sponsorship opportunities

We offer a variety of event sponsoring possibilities, with the flexibility to select a set sponsorship package or combine individual sponsorship options to suit your event budget. Discounts are available for companies sponsoring multiple events at EMBL Heidelberg. View other events, or contact sponsorship@embl.de for further information.

If you are interested in becoming a media partner of this event, please visit our media partnerships webpage.

Warning

EMBL wishes to warn sponsors of EMBL conferences and courses of fraudulent schemes purporting to offer sponsorship opportunities on behalf of EMBL or affiliated with EMBL officials. One current scam campaign of which we are aware is conducted using the name ‘Judy Eastman’ (judy@gopcontact.a2hosted.com) and entails approaches to sponsors offering sponsorship opportunities on EMBL’s behalf. Please be kindly advised that all relevant communication regarding sponsorship of EMBL conferences, symposia and courses is handled by EMBL directly and is sent from an official EMBL account. EMBL does not work with any external providers on sponsorship acquisition.

Please also note that:

  • EMBL never provides attendee lists for purchase. Any offers of such are fraudulent.
  • EMBL will never call or email you to ask for your credit card details or to request a payment.
  • All payments are on invoice.

Suspicious communications purportedly from, for or on behalf of EMBL should be reported to EMBL at the following email address sponsorship@embl.de.

Media kit

Want to let others know you’re attending this event? Take a look at our shareable media and feel free to use them in your social media channels or presentations.

Social 1080×1920
Social 1080×1080
Social 1600×900
PPT Slide 16×9

Date: 5 - 10 Mar 2023

Location: EMBL Heidelberg

Venue: EMBL Advanced Training Centre


Deadline(s):

Application: Closed


Organisers:

  • Martin Jechlinger
    EMBL Heidelberg and MOLIT Institute, Germany
    • Renée van Amerongen
      University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
      • María dM Vivanco
        CIC bioGUNE - Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences, Spain

      Contact: Charlotte Courtney

      Download event poster


What's new on our blog

Edit