CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Concurrent Track: Clinical Applications

Highlighting cellular therapy and tissue engineering research advancing toward the clinic; examining manufacturing challenges, upscaling processes, and providing updates on ongoing clinical trials.

Organized by: Takanori Takebe, MD, PhD, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, USA and The University of Osaka and Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan and Alessandro Aiuti, MD, PhD, San Raffaele Hospital, Italy

Clinical Trial Updates

Clive Svendsen, PhD, Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, USA
Michael Davis, PhD, Emory University, USA
Andres Bratt-Leal, PhD, Aspen Neuroscience Inc., USA
Jun Takahashi, MD, PhD, CiRA and Kyoto University, Japan

  • This session will feature the latest clinical breakthroughs from pivotal clinical trials advancing stem cell-based therapies.

Revolutionizing Therapies for Chronic Diseases

Rosario Isasi, JD, MPH, University of Miami, USA
Sarah Saietz, MsC, BsC, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
Mo Li, PhD, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia
Alice Del Vecchio, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Italy
Hongkui Deng, PhD, Peking University, China
Jihwan Song, D Phil, CHA University, South Korea

  • This session delves into groundbreaking advancements in gene therapies, focusing on the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) system. Topics include gene addition and editing techniques, including CRISPR/Cas9 and prime editing, and their applications in treating genetic diseases affecting the blood, central nervous system (CNS), skeletal systems, and more. This session will also cover emerging in vivo gene therapy strategies targeting HSCs and immune cells, as well as the regulatory, accessibility, and economic challenges associated with these advanced therapies. 

Modulating the Immune System to Fight Disease

Megan Levings, PhD, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute and University of British Columbia, Canada
Sonja Schrepfer, MD, PhD, Sana Biotechnology, USA
Asuka Morizane, PhD, MD, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Japan
Marco Cortese, PhD, Candiolo Cancer Institute, Italy
Yasunori Aizawa, PhD, Logomix, Japan
Lili Yang, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA
John Rasko, AO, Cynata Therapeutics, Australia

  • This session will highlight ways to either enhance or suppress the immune system to target a range of conditions like solid tumors, metabolic dysfunction, fibrosis and autoimmune diseases. We will explore innovations in CAR T cells, pluripotent stem cell-derived-macrophages and natural killer (NK) cells, all currently in clinical trials. Additionally, the session will discuss hypoimmune cells and the immune privilege of transplanted cells. 

Clinical Translation of Bioengineered Tissue-based Therapeutics

Sponsored by Novo Nordisk
Ryuichi Okamoto, MD, PhD, Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan
Xin Cheng, PhD, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, China
Kevin Costa, Novoheart, Medera Biopharm, USA
Wei Zuo, PhD, Tongji University, China
Shin-Jeong Lee, PhD, Yonsei University, Korea
Marcelo Rivolta, MD, PhD, University of Sheffield and Rinri Therapeutics, United Kingdom

  • This session will focus on the clinical translation of tissue replacement therapies, including bioengineered 3D tissues, organoids, and organs. We will discuss transplant-based and ex vivo device-based regenerative therapeutics, with applications in endocrine, digestive, urogenital, and neurological fields, as well as the emerging area of xenotransplantation. An ethics expert will also address the regulatory, accessibility, and economic aspects of these advanced therapies. 

Expanding Therapeutics Through Stem Cells and Reprogramming

Sponsored by: Stem Cell Reports

Maria Pia Cosma, PhD, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Spain
Pentao Liu, PhD, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Jean Paul Chadarevian, PhD, University of California, Irvine, USA
Rongrong Wu, PhD, Zhejiang University, China
Dong-Wook Kim, PhD, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea
Keisuke Kaji, PhD, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom

  • This session will explore the transformative potential of cellular reprogramming to restore and enhance organ function for therapeutic purposes. We will cover advancements in in vivo reprogramming-based therapeutics, mRNA-based therapies, and genome editing technologies, focusing on how these innovative approaches can revolutionize treatment options for various diseases. 

Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery

Exploring advances in using stem cells, both in vivo and in vitro, to model development and disease, with applications to drug discovery and therapeutic development.

Organized by: Kristen C. Sadler Edepli, PhD, New York University Abu Dhabi, UAE, and Joseph Wu, MD, PhD, Stanford University, USA

Stem Cells in Drug Discovery: From Concept to Application 

Sponsored by: bit.bio

Paul D. Pang, PhD, Greenstone Biosciences, USA
Benedetta Artegiani, PhD and Delilah Hendriks, PhD, Princess Maxima Center, Netherlands
Yuting Fu, PhD, Westlake University, China
Lotta Oikari, PhD, QIMR Berghofer, Australia
Liam Reed, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
Luciani Silveira de Carvalho, MD, PhD, University of São Paulo, Brazil

  • Stem cell-based models have advanced several drug compounds to the clinic. This session will feature investigators from academia and industry discussing approaches for screening, testing, and developing novel drugs for clinical application using stem cell-derived disease models.   

Insights into Disease Mechanisms from Stem Cell Research 

Sponsored by: Stem Cell Reports

Valerie Gouon-Evans, PhD, PharmD, Boston University, CReM, USA
Thomas Eschenhagen, MD, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Germany
Thierry VandenDriessche, PhD, Vrjie Universitet Brussel (VUB), Belgium
Jeng-Fan Lo, PhD, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
Bruno Ghirotto, MsC, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
Celine Bueds, KU Leuven, Belgium

  • Recent advances in stem cell research have uncovered key pathophysiological processes in solid organs. This session will showcase the use of in vitro and in vivo systems, including iPSCs, organoids, and whole animal models, to study disease mechanisms and identify potential treatment options. 

Stem Cells and Infectious Disease 

Sina Bartfeld, PhD, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
Kazuo Takayama, PhD, Kyoto University, Japan
Amos Lee, PhD, Meteor Biotech, Korea
Jie Zhou, PhD, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Jose Agustin Cota Coronado, PhD, Monash University, Australia
Ying Xi, PhD, ShanghaiTech University, School of Life Science & Technology, China

  • The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the role of stem cells in the clinical manifestations of infectious diseases. Stem cell therapy is a promising approach for treating a range of infectious diseases. This session will explore advances in using stem cell-based models to study infection and immune responses, paving the way for drug discovery and treatment design and development for infectious diseases.   

Stem Cell Models of Tissue Injury and Repair

Sponsored by: Stem Cell Reports

Sumru Bayin, PhD, The Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, UK
Patrick C. H. Hsieh, MD, PhD, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
DI PAN, MsC, Australian National University, Australia
Ana Lilia Serna-Valcerde, MD, PhD, University of Nottingham, UK
Julien Muffan, PhD, University of Toronto/The Hospital for Sick Children, Canada
Lyandysha Zholudeva, PhD, Gladstone Institutes, USA

  • This session will focus on using stem cells to study disease processes, a powerful tool for translating research from bench to bedside. We will highlight stem cell-derived models that provide insight into injury responses, regeneration, and tissue repair, enhancing our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind these processes and helping in the development of potential treatment options. 

Global Stakeholder Initiatives

Exploring emerging issues in stem cell research and regenerative medicine by engaging stakeholders such as the scientific community, policymakers, and the public; addressing public policy, ethics, regulatory topics, and ISSCR Guidelines and Standards presented by members leading these initiatives.

Emerging Ethical Issues with Neural Organoids

Sponsored by: Stem Cell Reports
Organized by the ISSCR Ethics Committee

Moderator - Jeremy Sugarman, MD, MPH, MA, Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, USA
Sergiu Pasca, MD, Stanford University, USA
Julian Savulescu, PhD, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Paola Arlotta, PhD, Harvard University, USA
Kazuto Kato, PhD, Osaka University Medical School, Japan 

  • This session explores emerging ethical issues in neural organoid research, including those related to their moral status, sourcing, and the use of in vitro (e.g., assembloids) and in vivo models. Leading experts from different disciplines will discuss strategies for addressing these issues and developing approaches to conducting ethical research and clinical applications.

BEST PRACTICES FOR THE TRANSLATION OF PLURIPOTENT STEM CELL-DERIVED THErAPIES 

Sponsored by WiCell

Moderator - Jacqueline Barry, PhD, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, UK
Jack Mosher, PhD, International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), USA
Tenneille Ludwig, PhD, WiCell Research Institute, USA 
Jung-Hyun Kim, PhD, Ajou University, Korea 
Glyn Stacey, PhD, International Stem Cell Biobanking Initiative, UK
Ricardo Baptista, PhD, SmartCella, Sweden 
Dhruv Sareen, PhD, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, USA 
Clive Svendsen, PhD, Cedars Sinai, USA 
John Rasko, AO, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia 
Deborah Hursh, PhD, Hursh Consulting, USA 

  • This session will introduce the ISSCR's Best Practices for the Development of PSC-Derived Cellular Therapies, a guide to accelerate the responsible development of PSC-derived therapies. Developed by over fifty international experts, the document provides a jurisdictionally neutral, visual, process-based translational roadmap covering starting materials; banking; raw/ancillary materials, devices, and equipment; regulatory considerations; drug substance / drug product; preclinical development; and clinical research. 

Manufacturing with Commercialization in Mind

Organized by the ISSCR Manufacturing, Clinical Translation, and Regulatory Committee

Moderator - Ivana Barbaric, DPhil, University of Sheffield, UK
Moderator - Jennifer Moody, PhD, Danaher Corporation, Canada 
Ricardo Baptista, PhD, SmartCella, Sweden
Tenneille Ludwig, PhD, WiCell, USA
Stefan Irion, MD, BlueRock Therapeutics, USA
Lijian Hui, PhD, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, China 
Ana Hidalgo-Simon, MD, PhD, reNEW & LUMC, Netherlands

  • This session will explore key considerations in developing stem cell-derived therapies for commercial use, focusing on critical factors such as starting material selection, genetic integrity, manufacturing scale, bioprocess complexity, and the assessment of final product comparability and analytical assays.  

Regulatory Fragmentation and Unproven Stem Cell Therapies: Beyond Harmonization

Sponsored by: Stem Cell Reports
Organized by the ISSCR Public Policy Committee

Moderator - Misao Fujita, MS, MPH, PhD, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Japan
Moderator - Douglas Sipp, Riken Center for Biosystems Dynamics, Japan 
Jaime Imitola, MD, FAAN, UConn Health, USA
Yaojin Peng, PhD, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Ji Hyeon Ju, MD, PhD, The Catholic University of Korea and YiPSCELL, Korea
Marlena Pecyna, Jagiellonian University, Poland

  • This session will address the global regulatory challenges of unproven stem cell therapies, including the impact of inconsistent national regulations and public demand for innovative treatments. Experts will discuss the origins of regulatory fragmentation and strategies for achieving global alignment to ensure patient safety. 

Organ Generation and Regeneration

Exploring research advances in stem cells and tissue biology relevant to normal organ formation, including experimental strategies for ex vivo organ engineering and in vivo replacement, and organ regeneration following injury or damage.

Organized by: Angela Wu, PhD, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, and Lygia de Veiga Pereira, PhD, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Animal Models of Regeneration 

Sponsored by: Stem Cell Reports

Mayssa H. Mokalled, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine, USA
Tatiana Sandoval-Guzmán, PhD, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
Albert Almada, PhD, University of Southern California (USC), USA
Yi Sun, ShanghaiTech University, China
Kai Lei, PhD, Westlake University, China
Hui Zhang, PhD, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, China

  • This session will explore our understanding of organ regeneration through animal models and discuss the potential for translating these insights into human organ regeneration. 

In Vivo and In Vitro Organ Generation 

Hiromitsu Nakauchi, MD, PhD, Stanford University, USA and Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan
Liangxue Lai, PhD, Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Katja Weinacht, MD, PhD, Stanford University, USA
Irene Talon, PhD, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Germany
Sean B. Wilson, PhD, reNEW, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine, Denmark
Xiling Shen, PhD, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, USA

  • This session will explore advances in organ generation, both in chimeras (in vivo) and in vitro, using a combination of cells, biomaterials, bioprinting, and other bioengineering technologies. 

Aging and Regeneration

Sponsored by: Stem Cell Reports

Emi Nishimura, MD, PhD, The University of Tokyo, Japan
Andrew Olander, University of California, Santa Cruz, USA
Paula Martos Salvo, Lund University, Sweden
Lily Guo, PhD, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Canada
Thomas A. Rando, MD, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA
Wolfgang Wagner, MD, PhD, Aachen University, Germany

  • This session will explore the mechanisms of stem cell mechanisms depletion in aging and how reversing these processes can enable reprogramming, regeneration, and rejuvenation.   

Engineering Regeneration

Tae-Eun Park, PhD, UNIST, Korea
Linna Zhou, PhD, Nuffield Department of Medicine and Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, UK
Yuan-Hung Liu, MD, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taiwan
Zhe Wang, PhD, Kyoto-U, Japan
Youngdoo Chung, Dankook University, Korea
Chao Liang, BDS, MDS, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

  • This session will highlight the latest engineering technologies in stem cell research, including stem cell-derived organoid models, engineered models of the niche, single-cell/spatial omics, computational tools, and more.  

Pluripotency and Development

Understanding pluripotency and lineage commitment; exploring embryo and organ development.

Organized by: Tina Mukherjee, PhD, Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine, India, and Vivian Gama, PhD, Vanderbilt University, USA

Metabolic Underpinnings of Stem Cells

Sponsored by: Stem Cell Reports

Qiurong Ding, PhD, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, CAS, China 
Marlen Knobloch, PhD, University of Lausanne, Switzerland 
Shyh-Chang Ng, PhD, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Qianhui Yu, PhD, Institute of Human Biology, Switzerland
Wei Jiang, PhD, Wuhan University, China
Xudong Fu, PhD, Zhejiang University, China

  • This session will delve into the metabolic requirements essential for stemness, including the mechanisms underlying the exit from naïve pluripotency and the maintenance of lineage and cell identity.   

Evolutionary Perspective of Development and Regeneration

Ayelet Voskoboynik, PhD, Stanford University, USA
Florian Raible, PhD, University of Vienna, Austria
Rui Fan, PhD, Max-Planck-Institute, Germany
Anita Adami, MsC, Lund University, Sweden
Assa Sherman, PhD Candidate, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Lauren Goins, PhD, Stanford University, USA

  • The session will adopt a comparative approach to development, using multi-model systems to highlight fundamental, unifying principals across species. 

Fate Choices in Development and Regeneration 

Sponsored by: Stem Cell Reports

Jacob H. Hanna, MD, PhD, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
Bhavana Muralidharan, PhD, Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine, India
Xingguo Liu, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
Tianming Wu, PhD, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong, China
Ying Zhang, PhD, The Francis Crick Institute, UK
Qiong Wang, MD, PhD, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China

  • This session will explore the molecular, systemic, and genetic factors that influence fate choices during development and regeneration. 

Technologies to Study Development and Physiology 

Sponsored by: Stem Cell Reports

Nicolas Rivron, PhD. ENG. Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Austria
Alex Gould, PhD, The Francis Crick Institute, UK
Antonio Giraldez, Yale School of Medicine, USA
Maria Giovanna Garone, BSc, MSc, PhD, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Australia
Jia Ping Tan, PhD, Westlake University, China
Jacqueline Larouche, PhD, Retro Bio, USA

  • This session will focus on current technologies that have revolutionized our understanding of early embryo development and the maintenance of pluripotency, both in vivo and in vitro.  

Somatic Stem Cells and Cancer

Exploring somatic stem cell homeostasis and ageing, stem cell-niche interactions, and stem cells in cancer.

Organized by: Lijian Hui, PhD, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, China, and Richard J. Gilbertson, MD, PhD, CRUK Cambridge Institute, UK

Niche Regulation in Stem Cells and Tissue Regeneration 

Honglin Wang, PhD, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, China
Bing Zhang, PhD, Westlake University, China
Chia-Wei Cheng, PhD, Columbia University Department of Genetics and Development, USA
Shahragim Tajbakhsh, PhD, Institut Pasteur Stem Cells and Development, France
Min Yang, PhD In Progress, National Institute of Biological Sciences, China
Sangbum Park, PhD, Michigan State University, USA

  • This session will explore the intricate interplay between the niche and stem cells, uncovering the mechanisms of microenvironment regulation that drive tissue regeneration and repair. 

Metabolism, Stem Cells, and Cancer

Stephanie Ma, PhD, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Ton Rabelink, MD, PhD, Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands
Tianchi Xin, PhD, Yale School of Medicine, USA
Jonathan Jung, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Anupama Hemalatha, PhD, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Switzerland
Leonard I. Zon, MD, Boston Children's Hospital, USA

  • This session will explore the connections between cellular metabolism, stem cells, and cancer, revealing the intricate relationships that hold potential for innovative therapeutic approaches. 

AI and Cancer Evolution 

Jiguang Wang, PhD, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
Nathan Palpant, PhD, The University of Queensland, Australia
Huaigeng Xu, MD, PhD, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), USA
Yang Fu, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong, China
Vincent Knight-Schrijver, PhD, The University of Cambridge, UK
Lap Hang Tse, PhD, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

  • This session will highlight how big data and deep learning are transforming cancer biology and treatment, focusing on the integration of multimodal data, virtual patients, and in silico clinical trials. 

  • This session will explore the evolving understanding of metastasis, which accounts for over 95% of cancer deaths, highlight how it is now seen as a hijacked normal process that also plays a role in tissue repair, rather than solely an abnormal process driven by malignant lineages.