ISSCR News
The ISSCR Announces Kyoto, Japan as Host City for 2029 Annual Meeting
Global stem cell research community to gather 26-29 June 2029 with support from CiRA, Kyoto University, and the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine
The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) is pleased to announce that its 2029 Annual Meeting will take place 26–29 June 2029 in Kyoto, Japan. The meeting will be held with the support of the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, and the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine (JSRM), bringing the world’s leading stem cell scientists, clinicians, industry innovators, and other stakeholders together in one of the most influential centers for stem cell research and regenerative medicine.
The ISSCR Launches New CDMO Directory to Support Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation
New member resource connects researchers with manufacturing expertise, advancing the ISSCR’s commitment to clinical readiness and responsible translation of stem cell research
The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) today announced the launch of its new ISSCR CDMO Directory, a web-based screening resource designed to help researchers identify contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) with capabilities relevant to advancing stem cell research toward clinical applications.
Available to the ISSCR’s nearly 5,000 members worldwide, the directory provides a centralized resource for exploring manufacturing capabilities of potential partners. The initiative reflects the Society’s strategic commitment to strengthening clinical readiness and providing researchers with practical tools and resources to help navigate the complex path from scientific discovery to clinical translation.
Global Stem Cell Research Community Gathers in Kyoto, Japan to Celebrate 20 Years of iPSC Discovery and Innovation
Sold-out ISSCR symposium underscores extraordinary global interest in stem cell science, from fundamental discoveries to clinical translation and emerging stem cell therapies
The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) today opens 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.
Early Nicotine Exposure Leaves a Lasting Effect on the Immune System
Nicotine exposure during pregnancy and shortly after birth caused lasting changes to the blood-forming stem cells and the developing immune system in mice, including a more damaging response to influenza infection later in life, researchers found.
The research team, led by Camilla Forsberg at the University of California, Santa Cruz, USA, exposed pregnant mice to nicotine to investigate the effects of perinatal nicotine exposure (PNE) to the blood building system. The researchers found that offspring exposed to nicotine had fewer blood-forming stem cells, the cells that produce mature effector immune cells and altered patterns of immune regulatory genes within these cells. These changes persisted into adulthood, even though nicotine exposure ended shortly after birth. The findings were published today in Stem Cell Reports.
Stem Cell Reports Named Official Meeting Journal of ASSCR 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting
Stem Cell Reports, the official journal of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), has been named the Official Meeting Journal of the Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research (ASSCR) 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting, taking place 9-11 November 2026 at The Glasshouse in Melbourne, Australia.
Under the theme “Brewing Innovation,” ASSCR 2026 will bring together researchers and leaders in stem cell science and regenerative medicine to share new discoveries, explore emerging technologies, and foster scientific collaboration across the Australasian research community and beyond.
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