ISSCR News
Nominations Are Open for the 2027 ISSCR Board of Directors and the Society’s Annual Awards
Nominations are now open for the 2027 ISSCR Board of Directors and the Society’s annual awards.
The strength of the ISSCR comes from the expertise, perspectives, and contributions of its global community. This fall, members have two important opportunities to engage with the Society – helping to shape its future leadership and recognizing individuals and groups whose contributions are advancing stem cell science and the field.
Nominations for both opportunities are due on 16 October 2026.
New Podcast Episode. Repair the Second Brain
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is an intricate network of neurons and glia lining the gastrointestinal tract, regulating digestion and overall health. Loss of ENS neurons, as occurs in Hirschsprung disease, leads to intestinal obstruction, and treatment options remain limited. One therapeutic approach for the disease is stimulating resident stem cells to regenerate the ENS, and another is through cell therapy to replace the missing cells — but significant challenges remain in translating either one into treatments. Our guests today think about ENS repair through these two complementary lenses using zebrafish and stem cell-derived ENS neurons. Together, their work deepens our understanding of how the ENS develops, matures, and regenerates, and lays the groundwork for future therapies.
The ISSCR and The Stem Cell Podcast Launch Early Career Research Series to Spotlight Emerging Leaders in Stem Cell Science
First episode features Drs. Yifei Miao and Anca Pașca discussing advances in tissue engineering and brain organoid research
The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) and The Stem Cell Podcast have launched a new Early Career Research Series designed to showcase the next generation of scientists advancing stem cell research and regenerative medicine.
Created in partnership with the ISSCR Early Career Advisory Committee, the series provides a platform for outstanding early career investigators to share their latest discoveries, discuss the questions driving their research, and highlight the innovative approaches shaping the future of the field. By amplifying emerging scientific voices, the collaboration aims to increase visibility for rising investigators while making cutting-edge stem cell research accessible to the global scientific community.
ISSCR Submits Comments Opposing Proposed U.S. Regulations that would Harm Merit-Based Science and International Collaborations
The ISSCR submitted comments on proposed regulations from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that would reshape how the U.S. federal government funds scientific research. Among other changes, the proposed regulations would de-emphasize merit-based review of scientific grant applications and instead establish a political review process, enable mid-stream grant cancellations without cause, and place restrictions or significant bureaucratic burdens on international research collaborations. As outlined in the comment letter, these proposed changes would have harmful impacts to the progress of stem cell research and its translation to the clinic. Given this, the ISSCR respectfully urged OMB to withdraw the proposed regulations.
Take Action to Preserve Merit-Based Science and International Collaborations
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed a new rule titled “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance” that will significantly reshape how the U.S. government funds and manages scientific research, including international collaborations, through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other agencies. All ISSCR members, regardless of whether you are U.S.-based or not, are eligible to provide comment on the proposed policy.
Though the rule is extensive and applies to all federal grantmaking, there are several areas where input from our community is critical.
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