Lorenz Studer Begins Term as President of the International Society for Stem Cell Research
Internationally recognized stem cell scientist and regenerative medicine pioneer to lead the Society during its 25th anniversary year
The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) today announces that Lorenz Studer, M.D., founding director of the Center for Stem Cell Biology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA, has started his term as President of the Society.
Dr. Studer is known globally for his pioneering advances in stem cell biology, regenerative medicine, and the development of stem cell-based therapies for neurodegenerative disease. His research has established widely adopted methods for generating specialized neural cell types from human pluripotent stem cells, providing foundational tools for disease modeling, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine. Dr. Studer’s laboratory has also led efforts to translate these discoveries toward clinical applications, including stem cell-derived therapies for Parkinson's disease.
“The ISSCR must be the place where stem cell researchers share their boldest ideas, where we help them navigate technical and ethical challenges, and where they find a community that will fight for the value of fundamental, high-risk research,” said Lorenz Studer, M.D., ISSCR President. “The ISSCR is your society. We are here to serve you, and we genuinely want to hear what is working, what we can do better, and what we should be bold enough to try next.”
As President, Dr. Studer will lead the Society as it celebrates the 25th anniversary of the ISSCR and its Annual Meeting to be held in San Francisco next summer. His presidency will emphasize scientific excellence, international collaboration, and the responsible translation of stem cell discoveries into new therapies while supporting the next generation of stem cell scientists.
“Throughout his career, Lorenz has exemplified the innovation, rigor, and collaborative spirit that define the ISSCR,” said ISSCR Chief Executive Officer Keith Alm. “His scientific leadership has helped shape modern regenerative medicine, and his vision for the Society will help strengthen our global community while advancing the responsible development of stem cell research for the benefit of patients.”
Dr. Studer has been an active ISSCR leader for many years, serving on the Board of Directors before being elected president. He received ISSCR Achievement Award in 2022 in recognition of his transformative contributions to stem cell research and regenerative medicine.
The ISSCR also welcomes its newly elected officers and Board members following the 2026 Annual Meeting. Fiona Doetsch, Ph.D., Biozentrum at the University of Basel, Switzerland, begins her term as president-elect, and Malin Parmar, Ph.D., Lund University, Sweden, begins her term as vice president.
Newly elected members of the ISSCR Board of Directors who also start their terms are Jianping Fu, Ph.D., University of Michigan, USA; Stefan Irion, M.D., GC Therapeutics, USA; and Kazuto Kato, Ph.D., University of Osaka, Japan. The Society also welcomes the reappointment of Shuibing Chen, Ph.D., Weill Cornell Medicine, USA, to the Board of Directors.
About ISSCR
Across more than 80 countries, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (@ISSCR) is the preeminent global, cross-disciplinary, science-based organization dedicated to advancing stem cell research and its translation to medicine.