The University of Oxford has developed an intensive one-year residential taught MSC course in clinical embryology, supported by a range of Nikon equipment and instruments.
The course has been developed in response to concerns that there are too few appropriately trained clinical embryologists to maintain current patterns of growth in assisted reproductive technology (ART).
The first course began in October 2008 and is administered by the Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.
From October 2009, the course will be based, alongside the Oxford Fertility Unit, in the purpose-built Institute for Reproductive Sciences located nearby.
Clinical embryology is a relatively young branch of reproductive science that has experienced enormous expansion over the last 30 years while becoming ever more closely regulated, with greater emphasis on quality assurance and biomedical ethical legislation.
Meticulous training of new personnel in the theoretical knowledge and practical skills concerned is therefore critical to future advancement and ensuring patients consistently receive the best care.
Dr Kevin Coward, course director, from Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, John Radcliffe Hospital, said: 'Our MSC course provides students with intensive theoretical and practical training in human reproductive biology, embryology, infertility and ART.
'The course also includes the latest developments in ART, including legislation, ethics and quality control.
'Significant emphasis is placed upon the acquisition of a range of practical skills and techniques that can be applied to either a research career in reproductive science or a clinical role in an ART unit.
'Students learn an array of 'hands-on' practical skills and techniques directly relevant to ART, as well as a range of 'traditional' and 'cutting-edge' scientific techniques and procedures commonly used in research targeting reproductive science/medicine.' The dedicated MSC teaching facility within the Institute for Reproductive Sciences benefits from using optical instruments, including a range of Nikon equipment (Eclipse E200 compound microscope, SMZ1500 stereomicroscope, SMZ445 stereomicroscope, Eclipse 80i fluorescent microscope), and is equipped with the latest laboratory equipment, as well as several sophisticated micromanipulation workstations (Nikon Eclipse Ti-S inverted microscope equipped with Narashige manipulators/injectors).
Provision of a sufficient number of workstations ensures that each student is guaranteed hands-on practical experience in all the laboratory sessions.
The Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology is equally well equipped with the latest equipment for research concerning the physiology and molecular aspects of aberrant reproductive function.
Specialised equipment is also available for microscopy and hormone assay/endocrine studies.
Strong collaborative links with other departments from within the University of Oxford provides access to advanced facilities for microinjection, confocal microscopy/live cell imaging, molecular biology, genomic/proteomic studies, mutation detection and transgenic studies.
