Back to School... in Summer

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Joaquim Vives, PhD
Banc de Sang i Teixits,
Barcelona, Spain

ESACT courses on Bioprocessing of cell and gene therapies take place every September in Llafranc, a coastal town located 125 km North of Barcelona (Spain) in the heart of “Costa Brava”. Its beaches have been visited by artists e.g. Rock Hudson, Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, Salvador Dalí and Ernest Hemingway, and the English writer Tom Sharpe was also a resident. Photo credit: Dr. Sara Morini.

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The cell and gene therapy (CGT) field is growing rapidly within the biopharmaceutical manufacturing sector and job opportunities are on the rise, making it an exciting and rewarding career choice. However, adequately trained professionals are hard to find amid the worldwide workforce shortage. This situation is not restricted to Industry, since Academia is lacking of scientists interested in becoming postdoctoral fellows (1, 2). This point is relevant because entering this field requires specific knowledge and skills that have traditionally been provided either through lengthy University programmes (i.e. masters, PhDs) or in custom-tailored short courses by consultants addressing regular training on the many aspects involved in CGT development, manufacturing and clinical use (3).

In this context, the so-called “summer schools” emerge as educational initiatives that provide an immersive learning experience, allowing students to delve deeper into the complexities of specific fields (i.e., regenerative medicine) and, depending on the format, to gain hands-on training with cutting-edge techniques and technologies. By bringing together experts and participants from diverse backgrounds, these programs foster interdisciplinary collaboration and facilitate the exchange of ideas, ultimately accelerating the progress of research and its translation into practice, while engaging different stakeholders in CGT career paths.

Historical Perspective

The concept of “summer schools” can be attributed to several educational reformers who recognized the benefits of providing specialized educational programs during the summer months, with its origins going back to 1887 at Clark University, where the first American university-level summer school took place focusing on teacher education. Matthew Arnold, an influential British poet, and cultural critic in the 19th century, is often credited with popularizing the concept of “summer schools”. He advocated for adult education and believed that providing intellectual opportunities during the summer break could enhance individuals' personal and professional development. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician, and educator, introduced the idea of “summer schools” as part of her educational philosophy. She believed in creating an enriching learning environment for children during the summer to foster their social, emotional, and intellectual growth.

The first “summer school” specifically focused on biomedical research is a bit challenging to pinpoint due to the vast scope of biomedical research and the decentralized nature of educational initiatives. However, one notable early example is the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Established in 1888, the MBL has a rich history of offering courses and programs that encompass various aspects of biological disciplines, including biomedical research, and became one of the pioneering institutions in promoting hands-on laboratory-based research during the summer season.

Summer Schools in CGT
Numerous societies, universities, and research institutions have established their own programs focusing on advances in translational research within regenerative medicine addressed to diverse audiences ranging from high school students to professionals. Some examples are listed next:

The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) conducts an annual summer school that covers topics such as regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and 3D bioprinting. This program offers a unique opportunity to learn from renowned experts in the field. Moreover, “Summer in the Forest” is addressed to young, as young as high school, students to immerse in biomedical research.
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) hosts summer programs aimed at undergraduate and graduate students interested in regenerative medicine, in their SPARK and BRIDGES programs, respectively. These programs offer hands-on training, mentorship opportunities, and exposure to state-of-the-art research facilities.
The Karolinska Institute (KI) in Sweden organizes a “Summer school in Medical Research" to introduce students to research early during their education at Karolinska Institutet. This program offers a comprehensive overview of regenerative medicine research, including lectures, practical laboratory sessions, and clinical visits.
The Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) in the Netherlands offers a summer school called "Regenerative Medicine: from Bench to Bedside". This program provides participants with a multidisciplinary perspective on regenerative medicine, combining lectures, practical workshops, and site visits.
The “European Summer School on Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine” has been running since 2005 in Hydra, Greece. It is a not-for-profit event organized by leading figures in the academic stem cell community and has received the support of The Company of Biologists.
The Universidad de Murcia in collaboration with the Spanish Network on Advanced Therapies (TERAV) organizes the “Advanced Therapies: scientific basis and clinical uses” summer school since 2006 in Los Alcázares (Spain), with a strong focus on quality and regulatory aspects of GMP manufacturing of CGT and their clinical translation.

Different Initiatives, Same Spirit
Although some initiatives are not called themselves as “summer school”, it is interesting to note that several educational programs, such as courses and workshops, have embodied the essence and purpose of “summer schools” in the context of CGT. These programs allow participants to acquire practical skills, engage in research projects, and exchange scientific knowledge in a collaborative environment. An example of this situation is illustrated by the courses organized by the European Society for Animal Cell Technology (ESACT) that offers a series of four different courses in bioprocessing at the end of the summer, in September-October. Some other examples include the Spring School offered by the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT), the Summer/Winter School supported by the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS), the range of courses offered by the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) through their educational events and E-learning platform, or the biennial ISCT-ASTCT Cell Therapy Training Course addressing the unfulfilled need for cell therapy training (covering the process of translational research to cell manufacturing and clinical trials in cellular therapy, including regulatory components), exposing Scholars to those topics that may not have been part of their formal education (4, 5).

Creating a Summer Mood for Learning
Embracing continuous learning outside the regular work environment, particularly during summer (or other holiday seasons) is a mindset that fosters both personal and professional growth in the long run. Moreover, the discussions and conclusions generated in “summer schools” are often exposed to wider audiences by being published in scientific journals. Indeed, a quick search in Pubmed showed 412 papers since 1892 (6), therefore indicating the value and potential influence in their specific fields of study.

References

Woolston C. Lab leaders wrestle with paucity of postdocs. Nature. 2022 Aug 30. PubMed PMID: 36042305.
Dunbar CE, Levine RL, Wolberg AS. The Perfect Storm: The Workforce Crunch and the Academic Laboratory The Hematologist. 2022 19/04/2022;19(3).
Vives J, Sánchez-Guijo F, Gnecchi M, Zwaginga JJ. Cell and Gene Therapy Workforce Development: The Role of the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT) in the Creation of a Sustainable and Skilled Workforce in Europe. Cytotherapy. 2023.
Woods VMA, Brimble MA. Spring Forward: ESGCT Trains the Next Generation of Gene and Cell Therapists. Hum Gene Ther. 2018 Oct;29(10):1074-5. PubMed PMID: 30280979.
Chatzinikolaidou M, Zeugolis DI. Editorial: Highlights From TERMIS EU 2019. Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology. 2020;8:604661. PubMed PMID: 33251205. Pubmed Central PMCID: 7672031.
Conn HW. Report of the summer school of the brooklyn institute for the season just closed. Science. 1892 Sep 16;20(502):157-9. PubMed PMID: 17781595. Epub 1892/09/16. eng.