Working Group Members Appointed to the Global Workforce Development in Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine Initiative
The Effort Is a Collaboration Between the International Society for Stem Cell Research and Canada’s Stem Cell Network
The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) and the Stem Cell Network (SCN) today announced the appointment of an international working group comprising trainees and early career scientists to advance a new Global Workforce Development in Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine Initiative. Through this joint effort, the organizations are convening a global dialogue on how the field can better prepare, support, and sustain the next generation of stem cell scientists across diverse career paths and regions.
The initiative will assess the evolving landscape of trainee and early career development, examining shared challenges and emerging opportunities while identifying critical skills gaps and future workforce needs. By bringing together perspectives from academia, industry, clinical research, policy, and global health, the collaboration aims to inform strategies that strengthen the talent pipeline and ensure the field remains positioned for continued scientific discovery, innovation, and patient impact.
“In partnership with SCN, this global initiative focuses on what early-career researchers need to succeed in modern research and clinical translation, and how organizations like ours can support and advocate for them,” said Keith Alm, Chief Executive Officer of the ISSCR. “The most important investment we can make is in the next generation. We thank the chairs and participants for their leadership in advancing this effort.”
Canada’s Stem Cell Network is proud to partner with the ISSCR on this important global initiative,” said Cate Murray, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Stem Cell Network. “A strong, sustainable stem cell ecosystem depends on how well we equip trainees and early career researchers to navigate a rapidly evolving research, clinical, and innovation landscape. At SCN we have always been committed to training the next generation of talent, ensuring they are well equipped to address the challenges of the future. By bringing diverse international perspectives together, this working group will identify ways to strengthen workforce development and ensure the field of regenerative medicine delivers meaningful impact for decades to come.”
Working Group Members
Justin Brumbaugh, Ph.D., co-chair, University of Colorado Boulder, USA
Justin Brumbaugh is an Assistant Professor in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and a Boettcher Investigator at the University of Colorado Boulder. His research explores the molecular mechanisms governing cell fate transitions, with a focus on epigenetic regulation and RNA processing during differentiation and cellular reprogramming. He completed postdoctoral training with Konrad Hochedlinger at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital and earned his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Brumbaugh brings deep experience in academic training pathways and mentoring early career scientists.
Danielle Spice, Ph.D., co-chair, Apiary Therapeutics, Canada
Danielle Spice is a Lead Scientist at Apiary Therapeutics, where she leads genetic engineering and stem cell research programs supporting therapeutic development. She earned her PhD from Western University studying neural differentiation and completed postdoctoral training at SickKids Hospital focused on mitochondrial disease in kidney development. In addition to her scientific work, Dr. Spice is an active science communicator through her platform @sciencewithspice and is passionate about career development, education, and broadening awareness of diverse career paths in science.
Kwesi Abaka-Quansah, University of Nottingham, UK
Kwesi Abaka-Quansah is an early-career researcher with an MSc in Stem Cell Technology and Regenerative Medicine from the University of Nottingham. His work focuses on human stem cell–derived organoid models to study lung development and diseases with translational relevance. Trained across research environments in both Ghana and the UK, and with experience in public health engagement and local biotech sector reforms, he brings a valuable global perspective on capacity building and equitable biomedical research. Kwesi aims to contribute these insights to the global workforce development group.
Sujjawal Ahmad, Aga Khan University, Pakistan
Sujjawal Ahmad is a Research Associate at the Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at Aga Khan University in Pakistan. He holds a master's degree in health policy and management, where his work examined national policies governing stem cell research, alongside training in molecular biology and biochemistry. His interests lie at the intersection of science, ethics, and policy, particularly in low- and middle-income country contexts, and he brings valuable insight into workforce development challenges in emerging research environments.
Nerea Cuesta-Gomez, Ph.D., University of Alberta, Canada
Dr. Nerea Cuesta-Gomez is a postdoctoral fellow at the Alberta Diabetes Institute whose academic training spans Spain, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Her international experience has shaped her interest in workforce development, global research mobility, mentoring structures, and equitable career progression. She is actively engaged in initiatives supporting trainees across career stages and brings lived experience navigating international relocation, career transitions, and work–life integration to the working group.
Sharmin Haideri, Ph.D., Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center, UAE
Dr. Sharmin Haideri is a Research Scientist at the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center, where she works on translating stem cell-derived therapies toward clinical application. She earned her PhD from the University of Edinburgh’s Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine and completed postdoctoral training at the McEwen Stem Cell Institute in Canada. Having worked across the UK, Canada, and the UAE, she offers a global perspective on workforce development and research ecosystem building.
Matthew Jeffers, University of Ottawa, Canada
Matthew Jeffers is a PhD candidate in Epidemiology at the University of Ottawa, supported by the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship and Stem Cell Network Impact Awards. His research focuses on improving the rigor and translational relevance of preclinical evidence for cell therapies, particularly in relation to international regulatory expectations. Prior to doctoral training, he spent nearly a decade as a laboratory manager overseeing late-stage preclinical studies, providing him with practical insight into workforce needs across academia, industry, and regulatory science.
Riho Kanai, D.D.S., Ph.D., McGill University, Canada
Dr. Riho Kanai is a clinician-scientist with nine years of experience as a board-certified prosthodontist and a research focus on salivary gland regeneration. She previously served as an assistant professor in Japan, conducting basic and preclinical research on macrophage-based cell therapies. Currently based in Canada, her work centers on cell-free therapeutic strategies and translational regenerative medicine, informed by her dual clinical and research background.
Jarmon Lees, Ph.D., St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, Australia
Dr. Jarmon Lees is an Australian Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellow and Team Leader at St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, with honorary appointments at the University of Melbourne and Monash University. His research leverages human stem cell–derived cardiac models to study heart disease and support drug discovery, with a focus on translational and high-throughput approaches. He brings experience in team leadership and interdisciplinary training environments.
Anabela Moreira, University of Minho, Portugal
Anabela Moreira is a Ph.D. candidate in Biomedicine and Health Sciences at the University of Minho, in collaboration with University College London. Her research focuses on stem cell-based models and therapeutic strategies for Parkinson’s disease. With prior experience in industry and active involvement in establishing an Early Career Researcher Network through the Portuguese Society for Stem Cells and Cell Therapy, she brings a strong interest in workforce development, collaboration, and science communication.
Lara Pacheco, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Lara Pacheco is a Ph.D. candidate in Genetics at the University of São Paulo and a visiting researcher at Duke University. Her research centers on cell fate reprogramming approaches to generate induced hepatic cells in vitro. She brings an international training perspective and represents the growing stem cell research community in Latin America.
Laura Stankiewicz, PhD, United Therapeutics, Canada
Laura Stankiewicz is a biomedical engineer and Program Manager for Thymus-Based Therapeutics at United Therapeutics. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia, where her research focused on human thymus biology, spatial omics, and T cell development. Her current work integrates stem cell-derived immune platforms with translational insights to advance regenerative therapies targeting immunosenescence.
Naveed Tavakol, Ph.D., Columbia University, USA
Naveed Tavakol is a biomedical engineer whose expertise spans microphysiological systems, pluripotent and adult stem cell technologies, and translational disease modeling. Trained in the Lab for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering at Columbia University, his work includes engineering bone marrow models to study immune interactions in health and disease. He is particularly interested in scientific dissemination and building bridges across biomedical research communities.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment by ISSCR and SCN to convene the global stem cell community around workforce development as a strategic priority for the field. At the ISSCR 2026 Annual Meeting, to be held 8–11 July 2026 in Montréal, Canada, the working group will host a dedicated session to highlight progress to date and share early insights. Additional updates will be presented at SCN’s Till & McCulloch Meetings, taking place 9–11 November 2026 in Vancouver, Canada. The working group will also engage global stakeholders through targeted outreach, including a public survey planned for spring of 2026. Ongoing activities and milestones will be shared on the Initiative’s website.
About ISSCR
With nearly 5,000 members from more than 80 countries, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (@ISSCR) is the preeminent global, cross-disciplinary, science-based organization dedicated to stem cell research and its translation to the clinic. The ISSCR mission is to promote excellence in stem cell science and applications to human health.
About the Stem Cell Network
The Stem Cell Network (SCN) is a Canadian not-for-profit that supports stem cell and regenerative medicine research; training the next generation of highly qualified personnel; enabling knowledge mobilization of research; and enhancing the commercialization readiness of stem cell and RM innovations. From the lab to the clinic, SCN’s goal is to power life-saving therapies and technologies through regenerative medicine research for the benefit of all. Created in 2001, with support from the Government of Canada, the Network has funded over 280 research projects and 30 clinical trials, cumulatively driven by experts from 350 research groups across Canada. Since its inception, over 28 biotech companies have been catalyzed or enhanced and more than 7,900 highly qualified personnel have been trained. In 2023, the Government of Canada announced additional funding for SCN through the Strategic Science Fund that will support SCN activities and research through to the end of the decade.
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