The InCelligence Training and Information Platform
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InCelligence is an independent training and information platform for modern life science topics. Our focus is on practical professional training and scientifically sound knowledge transfer in the fields of cell culture, molecular biology, quality management and GMP. |
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Practical Training for Laboratories and Industry
Our courses and professional training programs are designed for professionals working in research, development, manufacturing, quality control and quality assurance, as well as for specialists from biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
We offer two different training formats:
- In-house courses: We provide training directly at your premises and can adapt both the content and practical exercises to your company's specific requirements.
- Open courses: You can participate in our regularly scheduled training courses and benefit from professional exchange with participants from different laboratory and industry backgrounds.
Independent Scientific and Technical Information
In addition to our training programs, InCelligence provides practical information on cell culture, molecular biology, GMP and related life science topics. This includes content on ATMPs and tissue preparations literature, selected scientific literature, as well as an extensive collection of useful links and information resources.
Our aim is to present scientific and regulatory topics in an understandable way and to provide information that can be applied in everyday laboratory work, quality assurance and the development of biological products.
Consulting and Project-Based Support
In addition to our training activities, InCelligence provides scientific consulting and project-based services. We support laboratories and companies in areas including the preparation and optimization of SOPs and quality management documentation, the establishment of GMP-compliant processes for tissue preparations and ATMPs, and the development, standardization and troubleshooting of cell-based bioassays.
In addition to our training activities, InCelligence provides scientific consulting and project-based services. We support laboratories and companies in areas including the preparation and optimization of SOPs and quality management documentation, the establishment of GMP-compliant processes for tissue preparations and ATMPs, and the development, standardization and troubleshooting of cell-based bioassays.
We also advise manufacturers on the development and practical evaluation of cell culture equipment, consumables, reagents and assay products.
Sharing Knowledge and Contributing to InCelligence
InCelligence is intended to grow continuously and address new scientific and technical topics. Suggestions from research, laboratory practice and industry help us improve existing content and develop new information resources.
We welcome:
- suggestions for new topics and scientific input
- comments and constructive criticism
- recommendations for interesting scientific literature and information resources
- reports and practical experience from laboratory work
- contributions from guest authors
If you would like to share your expertise or practical experience, you are also welcome to contribute to InCelligence as an author.
Experience with Laboratory Equipment and Products
Have you had particularly positive experiences with a laboratory device, consumable, reagent or assay product—or have you encountered recurring problems during its use?
Your professional assessment may help other users. We welcome objective experience reports, information about strengths and weaknesses, and suggestions for improving cell culture products and laboratory equipment.
Please feel free to contact us and help us further develop InCelligence as an independent, practice-oriented knowledge platform.
Our Network of Trainers and Authors
InCelligence was founded in 2012 by Dr. Nicole Kühl. From the beginning, the platform has been supported by an interdisciplinary network of cell and molecular biologists, chemists, biological and medical laboratory professionals, and other specialists from laboratory practice, research, industry and quality management.
Our trainers and authors contribute their individual scientific and practical expertise to InCelligence courses, training materials and information resources. People who have supported InCelligence over the years or continue to support the platform include:
- Dr. Nicole Kühl – cell biology, cell culture, bioassays, quality management, GMP, tissue preparations and ATMPs
- Dr. Matthias Herkert – ELISA and immunoassays
- Wolf-Dieter Wanner – GMP, cleanrooms, contamination control, qualification and validation
- Dr. Christoph Giese – cell banking, industrial cell culture, tissue models and quality control
- Dr. Johannes Becker-Follmann – PCR, molecular biology and scientific e-learning; founder of the Institute for Polymorphism and Mutation Analysis, formerly iPUMA
- Dr. Anja Feldner – 3D cell culture; BioNTech
- Dr. Bernd Laffert – quality management and quality assurance
- Constantin Berger – cell culture and application-oriented research at the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC
- Tina Bidmon – cell culture materials and practical product application; TPP Techno Plastic Products
- Ute Claus – laboratory practice, biological agents and occupational health and safety; formerly Jacobs University Bremen, now Bremen State Trade Supervisory Authority
- Dr. Peter Schröder – ELISA, biochemistry, molecular biology and scientific continuing education
- Dr. Michael Oed – in vitro diagnostics, product development and quality management
The information above describes each individual's professional contribution to InCelligence. Any company affiliations mentioned are provided solely for professional context and do not imply institutional sponsorship or endorsement of InCelligence by the respective organizations.
Contribute to InCelligence
Would you like to share your expertise and support InCelligence as an author or expert trainer? We welcome contributions from science, laboratory practice, quality management and industry.
Suggestions regarding new topics, methods and regulatory developments are also welcome. Send us your questions, text proposals, illustrations or ideas at
Dr. rer. nat. Nicole Kühl
Cell Culture, Bioassays and GMP – Scientifically Sound and Practically ApplicableDr. Nicole Kühl is a cell and molecular biologist and the founder and director of InCelligence. Since 2012, she has supported pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, research institutions, cell culture laboratories, and manufacturers of laboratory equipment and consumables through specialized training programs and individual consulting projects. Her work focuses on the reliable and reproducible application of cell biology methods. Rather than teaching theoretical principles alone, she analyzes specific laboratory workflows together with course participants and project partners, identifies potential sources of error and develops practical solutions. Scientific requirements, regulatory expectations and the actual conditions found in laboratory practice are consistently considered together. Scientific Experience with Primary Cells and Complex Cell SystemsNicole Kühl studied biology at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the University of Bremen, focusing on neurobiology and molecular cell biology. In her doctoral thesis, which she completed magna cum laude, she investigated the effects of heat stress on cell proliferation and cell cycle control. |
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As a postdoctoral researcher at University Medical Center Groningen, she specialized in therapy-oriented multiple sclerosis research. Her work focused particularly on primary oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and microglial cells, investigating the role of growth factors and their binding proteins in cell survival and differentiation.
At Jacobs University Bremen, she continued this work as a scientist and research group leader and taught biochemistry and cell biology. Her practical experience includes primary human and animal cells, mesenchymal stromal cells, established adherent and suspension cell lines, cell viability and proliferation assays, apoptosis and cell cycle analysis, flow cytometry, microscopy, as well as molecular biological and protein biochemical methods.
This extensive experimental experience continues to form the basis of her training and consulting activities today. Methods are not considered in isolation but always in the context of cell biology, reproducibility, process control and the reliability and significance of experimental results.
Training That Works in the Laboratory
From 2008 to 2011, Nicole Kühl headed the PromoCell Academy, where she developed and organized theoretical and practical cell culture courses for scientific and technical staff.
Since 2012, she has continued this work independently through InCelligence. Her training experience includes more than 100 in-house training courses as well as numerous open professional courses for staff working in research and development, pharmaceutical manufacturing, quality control, diagnostics, technical support and sales.
Her main training topics include:
- basic and advanced cell culture techniques
- primary cell culture
- cell culture troubleshooting
- quality management and standardization
- cell culture under GMP
- GMP requirements for ATMPs and tissue preparations
- aseptic working techniques and hygiene
- contamination prevention and mycoplasma detection
- cell banking and cryopreservation
- development, optimization and validation of cell-based bioassays
- cell viability, proliferation and cytotoxicity assays
- documentation and preparation of cell culture-specific SOPs
In-house training courses are adapted to the specific cell types, methods, processes and qualification objectives of each company. Practical exercises can be conducted directly in the client's laboratories. This allows results and recommendations for improvement to be transferred directly to existing workflows.
GMP, ATMPs and Quality Assurance
In addition to her work as a trainer, Nicole Kühl has many years of experience in pharmaceutical quality assurance. Since 2016, she has supported the ANOVA Institute for Regenerative Medicine in a senior external quality assurance role.
She led the quality and regulatory preparation for a manufacturing authorization pursuant to Section 13 of the German Medicinal Products Act (AMG), as well as authorizations pursuant to Sections 20b and 20c AMG. These authorizations established the manufacturing framework for Bone Marrow Concentrate and a secretome product derived from mesenchymal stromal cells. One of these projects resulted in an authorized first-in-human application in 2018.
This practical responsibility directly informs her GMP and ATMP training. Regulatory requirements are not simply presented in abstract terms but are explained using real manufacturing, quality and validation challenges.
These include translating regulatory requirements into cell culture processes, preparing appropriate SOPs, conducting risk assessments, validating methods, controlling contamination, and ensuring consistent cell and product quality.
Nicole Kühl also supports companies with the standardization of bioassays, development of release assays, and product development projects involving cell culture equipment and consumables.
Contribution to Standardization
At the invitation of the German Institute for Standardization (DIN), Dr. Kühl was a member of the working group “Incubators for Tissue Engineering” in 2011 and 2012. In this role, she contributed her scientific and practical expertise in cell culture and the cultivation of sensitive primary cells to standardization activities and gave a specialist presentation on GMP requirements within the DIN working group.
Professional Networks
Author: Dr. Nicole Kühl