Delivering Impact as Stem Cell Technologies Advance
In early November, I attended a gene and cell therapy meeting in Los Angeles, USA where the city was still celebrating the L.A. Dodgers’ World Series championship. Amid that energy, I engaged in lively discussions with ISSCR members and leading scientists from around the world. The atmosphere—intense and exhilarating—was reminiscent of a championship game itself. It was clear that advances in stem cell and gene-editing technologies are rapidly accelerating translational research and its societal impact.
I also had the opportunity to meet with a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) official, discussing how regulatory authorities are approaching the integration of new technologies into therapeutic frameworks. During the symposium, I introduced the ISSCR’s recently published Best Practices for the Development of Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Therapies (released on October 9). The document was met with strong interest from participants across regulatory and industry sectors, underscoring ISSCR’s leadership in guiding safe and ethical progress in stem cell–based innovation. To date, the resources has been downloaded more than 1,200 times from the ISSCR website, signaling a need for this innovative and complex guidance.
It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Nobel Laureate Sir John Gurdon, whose pioneering nuclear transfer experiments in frogs fundamentally reshaped modern biology. His elegant demonstration that the nucleus of a differentiated cell retains the complete genetic blueprint of life laid the groundwork for cellular reprogramming and ultimately the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). His 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, shared with former ISSCR President Prof. Shinya Yamanaka, recognized discoveries that have profoundly influenced biomedical science. Sir John’s legacy continues to inspire generations of researchers—including many within our ISSCR community—to explore new frontiers in understanding and treating human disease.
To celebrate this enduring legacy, ISSCR will host an International Symposium in Kyoto, Japan, in October 2026, marking the 20th anniversary of iPSC discovery. This special event will bring together scientists worldwide to highlight breakthroughs inspired by Professors Gurdon and Yamanaka and to envision the next generation of stem cell innovations. Registration and abstract submission are now open: ISSCR Kyoto 2026 Symposium.
Finally, I am pleased to announce that registration and abstract submission are also open for the ISSCR 2026 Annual Meeting, to be held 8–11 July 2026 in Montréal, Canada. The Global Stem Cell Event will convene academic and industry leaders who are advancing stem cell research and regenerative medicine. I warmly invite all members and colleagues around the world to join us in Montréal to share discoveries, strengthen collaborations, and shape the future of our field.
Hideyuki Okano