The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) opened its international symposium celebrating the 20th anniversary of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell technology, bringing together scientists, clinicians, and innovators from around the world to reflect on two decades of transformative discoveries and explore the future of stem cell research and regenerative medicine.
The three-day symposium, held 20–22 October in Kyoto, Japan, is organized in partnership with the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) and co-sponsored by the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine (JSRM).
The extraordinary response to the symposium underscores the strength and momentum of stem cell science worldwide . Registration reached capacity twice, even after the ISSCR expanded the meeting to a larger venue to accommodate growing demand. This remarkable level of interest reflects both the profound impact of iPSC technology over the past two decades and the expanding opportunities ahead, from fundamental discoveries in human biology to advances in disease modeling, drug discovery, clinical translation, and the development of stem cell-based therapies.
Opening Plenary: Two Decades of Discovery and Impact
The program opens with a distinguished plenary, chaired by Jun Takahashi, M.D., Ph.D., CiRA, Kyoto University, Japan, featuring three internationally recognized leaders whose work has helped shape the field and its future.
Shinya Yamanaka, M.D., Ph.D. CiRA, Kyoto University and CiRA Foundation, Japan, and Gladstone Institutes, USA, delivered the keynote address, “Two Decades of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Research: From Discovery to Impact.” His presentation traced the evolution of iPSC technology from its groundbreaking discovery to its growing medical applications, including clinical trials of iPSC-derived cells and tissues. He also discussed recent regulatory milestones in Japan, where two iPSC-derived regenerative medical products have received conditional, time-limited approval, as well as the scientific and translational challenges that remain.
Janet Rossant, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief of Stem Cell Reports and Senior Scientist Emeritus at SickKids Research Institute, University of Toronto, Canada, presented “From Embryos to iPS Cells to Embryo Models – Science and Ethics Converge.” Her presentation explored how iPSC technology transformed pluripotent stem cell research and expanded opportunities to investigate early human development, while examining the evolving scientific and ethical considerations surrounding stem cell-based embryo models.
George Daley, M.D., Ph.D., Harvard Medical School, USA, presented “The Cellular Alchemy of Reprogramming: Have We Made Gold?” His talk examined the scientific advances made possible by cellular reprogramming, including new insights into cell identity and differentiation, disease modeling, and the development of cell-based medicines. He highlighted progress and remaining challenges in generating blood-forming stem cells from iPSCs.
Together, these opening presentations capture the breadth of the field’s progress, from fundamental understanding of cell fate and human development to the responsible advancement of regenerative medicine.
Scientific Presentations Spotlight Advances in iPSC Biology, Genetic Stability, Disease Modeling, and Scalable Manufacturing to Support the Next Generation of Regenerative Therapies
Yasuhiro Takashima, M.D., Ph.D., Kyoto University, Japan, examined the expanded developmental potential of naive human iPS cells, including their use in human embryo models to study early development, implantation, and pregnancy-related disorders, as well as their potential advantages for future regenerative medicine applications.
Ivana Barbaric, Ph.D., University of Sheffield, UK, explored how genetic changes arise in human pluripotent stem cells and how variant cells can gain a competitive advantage in culture, highlighting strategies to improve genetic stability and reliability for research and clinical applications.
Assa Sherman, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel presented genome-wide screening research identifying genetic mechanisms that influence tumor formation in human pluripotent stem cells, providing insights that could help improve the safety of future stem cell-based therapies.
Maike Sander, M.D., Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Germany, highlighted advances in engineered stem cell-derived islet organoids for diabetes research, including how incorporating blood vessels and supporting cells improves beta cell function and creates more sophisticated models for studying disease and evaluating potential treatments.
Rapid-Fire Talks Spotlight Early-Career Scientists
The rapid-fire session features 10 early-career scientists on day one presenting emerging research spanning human development, cellular reprogramming, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine.
“A Stem Cell-Derived Organizer Reconstitutes Human Gastrulation and Organogenesis,” Mert Akgunduz, Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Japan. In this work, Mert Akgunduz developed a human stem cell-derived embryo model that recreates key aspects of early human development, including tissue organization and early organ formation.
“Autologous T Cells Differentially Infiltrate and Damage Patient-Specific Stem Cell-Derived Islets in Type 1 Diabetes Carl Andersson,” Uppsala University, Sweden. Carl Andersson used patient-specific stem cell-derived islets to investigate immune cell interactions and damage in type 1 diabetes, offering insights for improving future cell replacement therapies.
“A Context-Dependent Virtual Cell Framework Maps Reprogramming Plasticity and Captures a Self-Renewing OCT4+ Human Hypoblast Stem Cell State,” Xueying Fan, Westlake University, China. Xueying Fan developed a computational framework to map cell fate decisions during reprogramming, identifying a previously inaccessible human hypoblast stem cell state.
“Repurposed macroH2A Chromatin Landscapes Guide Cellular Reprogramming.” Dimitrios Valakos, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Greece. Dimitrios Valakos revealed how changes in chromatin organization help differentiated cells acquire and maintain pluripotency.
“iPSC-Based In Vitro Epidemiology: Human Neural Organoids and Germline Models Uncover Windows of Developmental Vulnerability to Endocrine Disruptors,” Sarah Stucchi, Human Technopole, Italy. Sarah Stucchi used human iPSC-derived neural organoids and germline models to investigate how environmental chemicals, hormones, and genetic susceptibility influence human development.
“Deep Nuclear Proteomics Cell Programming Platform Unlocks Rapid Human iPSC Cardiac Differentiation and Maturation,” Zacharie Taoufiq, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology. Zacharie Taoufiq introduced a proteomics-guided approach that accelerates the generation and maturation of human iPSC-derived heart muscle cells.
“A Human Alveolar Organoid Model of Macrophage-Mediated Mycobacterium abscessus Infection,” Min Jung Kim, Ajou University, South Korea. Min Jung Kim developed a human lung organoid model to study how immune cells contribute to bacterial infection and inflammation, providing a platform for evaluating potential treatments.
“Multimodal Morphological Profiling Delineates Early Human Cell Fate Transitions,” Ramon Pfaendler, Botnar Institute of Immune Engineering, ETH Zürich, Switzerland. Ramon Pfaendler combined advanced imaging, deep learning, and molecular profiling to reveal how cell shape and spatial organization influence early human cell fate decisions.
“Generation of Human iPS Cell-Derived Jawbone Assembloids with Vascular Networks and Osteoclasts,” Souta Motoike. Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Japan. Souta Motoike created human iPSC-derived jawbone models incorporating blood vessels and bone-remodeling cells to investigate jawbone biology and disease.
“Modeling Neurodevelopmental Imbalance in Epilepsy Using iPSC-Derived Human Brain Organoids,” Marion Guillon, CHU Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal, Canada. Marion Guillon used gene-edited human brain organoids to investigate how epilepsy-associated genetic mutations disrupt early brain development and inform future personalized therapies.
The ISSCR gratefully acknowledges the leadership of symposium chair Shinya Yamanaka and the international organizing committee , as well as the partnership of CiRA, and co-sponsorship of JSRM.
The Society also recognizes the generous support of all of symposium's sponsors and exhibitors, whose contributions help make this international scientific exchange possible. A complete list of sponsors, exhibitors, and program information is available on the ISSCR symposium website .
About ISSCR
Across more than 80 countries, the International Society for Stem Cell Research ( @ISSCR ) is the preeminent global, cross-disciplinary, science-based organization dedicated to advancing stem cell research and its translation to medicine.