Only a month ago, it felt as though spring had finally arrived in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Here in Tokyo, where I live, the season has already moved forward, and the fresh green leaves now fill the city with a sense of renewal. At ISSCR, we are also entering a season of anticipation. The program for ISSCR 2026 is now nearly complete, and it has developed into a truly exciting meeting. I very much look forward to seeing many of you in person this July in Montréal.

At the same time, ISSCR’s work extends well beyond the preparation of our Annual Meeting. As one important example, we have been actively engaged in responding to the recent NIH Request for Information concerning the future use of human embryonic stem cells, or hESCs, in NIH-supported research. I would like to take this opportunity to share the central message of our response.

Spring has once again arrived across much of the Northern Hemisphere, bringing with it a welcome sense of renewal. At moments like this, I am reminded that science has a special role to play. It is not merely a means of generating knowledge. It is also a shared human enterprise—one that can transcend borders, bring people together across differences, and create hope where uncertainty too often prevails. In an era increasingly marked by fragmentation, I believe it is more important than ever that we reaffirm the value of open scientific exchange, rigorous scholarship, and international solidarity.

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has transformed biomedicine far beyond its original promise for regenerative medicine. By preserving a patient’s genetic background while enabling the generation of disease-relevant cell types—and increasingly sophisticated tissue architectures such as organoids and other advanced in vitro systems—we can now recreate key aspects of human pathology in the laboratory. These platforms are becoming a powerful engine not only for mechanistic disease research, but also for drug discovery and development.

As we pass the first month of 2026, stem cell research has already experienced both encouraging developments and serious challenges. In the United States, recent signals of a more restrictive stance toward research involving fetal tissue and human embryonic stem cells—particularly in the context of NIH policy—have been a source of deep concern for our field. The ISSCR has issued a formal statement addressing the fetal tissue policy change, and we sincerely hope that continued dialogue and advocacy will help improve the circumstances. Further the ISSCR will respond to the Request for Information (RFI) on Human Embryonic Stem Cells in NIH-Supported Research, continuing our longstanding defense of the stem cell field. For members who wish to share examples of the impact of limitations on hESC research with the media or policymakers, please let us know. These moments remind us that progress in stem cell science is never guaranteed and must be continually defended through evidence, transparency, and ethical responsibility.

I sincerely hope that this new year will be a fulfilling and inspiring one for each of you.

As we begin 2026, the world continues to face profound and interrelated challenges—escalating natural disasters driven by climate change, rising geopolitical tensions, and evolving disease landscapes associated with global aging. In the midst of these uncertainties, I am reminded daily of the enduring mission of the ISSCR: to advance stem cell science in order to overcome disease, safeguard human health worldwide, and nurture the next generation of scientists who will carry this mission forward.