FROM OOCYTE TO EMBRYO: STUDENTS GAINED HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH MODERN REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY TECHNIQUES

This year again, students of the Master's programme in Reproductive and Developmental Biology at the Faculty of Science, Charles University, took part in the practical course Experimental Work with Mammalian Oocytes and Embryos. Held from 25 to 28 May 2026, the course introduced students to techniques for the isolation and in vitro culture of mammalian oocytes and early embryos, as well as the fundamentals of live-cell microscopy.

As in previous years, the course concluded with a visit to the Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Liběchov, where participants gained hands-on experience with advanced imaging technologies. They worked with both confocal and light-sheet microscopy, which enables long-term, high-resolution imaging and three-dimensional visualization of living mammalian embryos. This allowed students to observe early embryonic development almost in real time and become familiar with methods widely used in contemporary biomedical research.

The course was organized as part of the Strategy AV21 programme – Future of Assisted Reproduction (ART), which connects basic research, clinical practice, and education in the field of reproductive medicine. In addition to supporting cutting-edge research, one of the programme's key objectives is to educate the next generation of scientists and provide students with practical experience using the latest approaches in reproductive and developmental biology.

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