Honorees from the Netherlands, Japan, Switzerland, and the United States recognized for their research contributions at landmark scientific gathering in Kyoto
The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) is pleased to announce five Poster Award recipients from its international symposium, Celebrating 20 Years of iPSC Research: Advances and Future Perspectives, held 20-22 October 2026 in Kyoto, Japan.
The symposium brought together scientists from around the world to celebrate two decades of progress since the groundbreaking discovery of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells by Shinya Yamanaka, M.D., Ph.D., and to explore the next generation of scientific advances and clinical applications.
The ISSCR’s Poster Awards reflect the breadth of scientific talent and international collaboration that defines the Society’s global community. The symposium provided an opportunity for researchers across disciplines and career stages to exchange ideas, forge connections, and explore emerging opportunities to advance fundamental discovery and clinical translation.
2026 Kyoto Symposium Poster Award Honorees
Souta Motoike, PhD
CiRA, Kyoto University, Japan
“I am deeply honored to receive this prestigious award at the symposium celebrating the 20th anniversary of iPS cells. I will continue to dedicate my efforts to advancing the clinical application of iPS cell technology in dentistry.”
Ramon Pfaendler, PhD
Botnar Institute of Immune Engineering & ETH Zürich, Switzerland
“I usually present this work to systems biologists, so having it recognized by the people who built this field, in the place they built it, is something I will keep.”
Mert Akgunduz
Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Japan
“I feel truly honored and grateful to receive this Poster Award. Participating in this symposium has been a wonderful opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with so many scientists from around the world, and I am delighted to have been part of it.”
Eilley W. Barron
University of Maryland, USA
“I am incredibly honored and grateful to have received a Poster Award at the ISSCR Symposium celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Dr. Yamanaka’s groundbreaking discovery of iPSCs. Learning from so many inspiring scientists was an unforgettable and humbling experience, sparking my curiosity to keep asking questions and exploring new research ideas.”
Catarina Grandela, PhD
Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Netherlands
“It was a privilege to be part of this ISSCR Symposium, reflecting on the remarkable progress and exciting future of iPSC research, all against the backdrop of Kyoto’s unique magic, where it all began. I left feeling inspired and looking forward to many more years of discoveries and breakthroughs in the field!”
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.