Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering in urogenital surgery and fertility
Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences at University of Copenhagen
This course is free of charge for PhD students at Danish universities (except Copenhagen Business School), and for PhD Students from NorDoc member faculties. All other participants must pay the course fee.
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student at a Danish university, you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. This also applies to PhD students from NorDoc member faculties. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to applicants on the waiting list.
Learning objectives
A student who has met the objectives of the course will be able to:
1. Explain the core principles of regenerative medicine and their application in urogenital reconstruction.
2. Critically evaluate current research on human fertility, including the mechanisms, challenges, and advancements in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and fertility preservation strategies.
3. Describe current clinical challenges and unmet needs in the treatment of infertility and rare urogenital conditions.
4. Recognize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, integrating surgical innovation, cellular therapies, and biomaterial-based approaches in regenerative medicine.
5. Critically assess translational strategies for implementing regenerative medicine in clinical practice, identifying key barriers—including ethical, regulatory, and patient-centered challenges—particularly in sensitive populations such as pediatric patients and cancer survivors.
Content
This PhD-level course offers an introduction to regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, with a particular emphasis on clinical applications in reconstructive urogenital surgery, assisted reproductive technology, and fertility preservation.
In this course, students will learn how to translate regenerative technologies into effective clinical interventions that improve patient outcomes and quality of life. The course is anchored in the research and clinical framework of the Clinical Academic Group in Regenerative Medicine for Urogenital Surgery and Fertility (CAG-SURF)
Participants will engage with interdisciplinary content through a blend of lectures, expert presentations, Bioprinting lab exercises and case-based discussions. The curriculum integrates key concepts from surgical innovation, stem cell therapy, biomaterials and tissue engineering. The course also explores current research collaborations, translational challenges, and ethical considerations, particularly in relation to vulnerable patient populations such as children and cancer survivors.
Real-world clinical cases will illustrate how regenerative principles are being translated into practice to restore organ function and fertility.
Participants
PhD students having a background in medical sciences, cell biology, bioengineering, or interested in fertility treatment or tissue engineering.
Relevance to graduate programmes
The course is relevant to PhD students from the following graduate programmes at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, UCPH:
Cellular and Genetic Medicine
Surgical Sciences
Life Cycle in Medicine
Language
English
Form
This is an in-person (on site) course based on Lectures by faculty members, lab-based practicals, case-base group work, and expert presentations by invited specialist. The course also includes interdisciplinary discussions and guided site visits.
Course directors
Jason Halliwell, Assistant Professor, Center for Chromosome Stability, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Panum Institute Blegdamsvej 3b, Building 18.1.32 DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
Email: jhalliwell@sund.ku.dk
Magdalena Fossum, Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Digestive Diseases, Transplantation and General Surgery, Rigshospitalet and Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen
Email: maria.magdalena.fossum@regionh.dk
Teachers
o Jason Halliwell, Assistant Professor University of Copenhagen, Center for Chromosome Stability, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
o Eva Hoffmann, PhD, Professor, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
o Magdalena Fossum, MD, PhD, Clinical Professor, Head of Department of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Digestive Diseases, Transplantation and General Surgery, Rigshospitalet and Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
o Clara Chamorro, PhD, Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Tissue Engineering Karolinska Institutet and Rigshospitalet, Denmark
o Mahboobeh Amoushahi, PhD, Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
o Simone Hildorf, MD, PhD, Postdoc, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Digestive Diseases, Transplantation and General Surgery, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
o Nicolai Juul, MD, PhD, Department of Diseases, Transplantation and General Surgery, Department of Digestive Diseases, Transplantation and General Surgery, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
o Johan Ulrik Lind, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
o Maggie Ruding, PhD-student, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark
o Christian Fuglesang Jensen, MD, PhD, Department of Urology, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Denmark
o Jens Fedder, MD, PhD, Clinical Professor, Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Head of Andrology, Centre of Andrology & Fertility Clinic, Horsens Hospital & Aarhus University, Denmark
o Stine Gry Kristensen, PhD, Senior Researcher, Head of Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
o Gorm Greisen, MD, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
o Kyle Orwig, PhD, , Department of Obstetric and Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, United States of America
o Anja Pinborg, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rigshospitalet
o Jenny Gruhn, Assistant Professor, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
o Grunes Taylor, PhD, Senior Researcher, Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
o Arjun Biddanda, PhD, Senior Researcher, Department of Biology at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States of America
o Amy Kaucher, PhD-student, Center for Chromosome Stability, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Dates
26 – 29 January 2026
Duration:
Four days spanning 08:45-16:00 (2 days) 8:15-16:00 (2days)
Course location
Teaching will be delivered across three leading institutions:
- Day one and four at Panum, Copenhagen University - theoretical and scientific foundations.
- Day two at the Technical University of Denmark - insights into biomaterials, 3D-printing, tissue- and bioengineering.
- Day three at Rigshospitalet - clinical and translational perspectives.
Registration
Please register before 16 December 2025
Expected frequency
Once a year
Seats to PhD students from other Danish universities will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules. Applications from other participants will be considered after the last day of enrolment.
Note: All applicants are asked to submit invoice details in case of no-show, late cancellation or obligation to pay the course fee (typically non-PhD students). If you are a PhD student, your participation in the course must be in agreement with your principal supervisor.