I have long believed that one of the most valuable benefits of your membership is the opportunity to leverage the expertise of the global stem cell and regenerative medicine community to help ensure that legislative and regulatory policies support responsible research and discovery in our field. A substantial amount of scientific research is funded through national or government investment, therefore these policies can have a significant impact on biomedical research and the pursuit of new therapeutics to treat disease.

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) will host a four-part digital meeting series featuring a global line-up of speakers who will discuss their latest organoid research. Applying Organoids: The 3D Frontier, co-sponsored by STEMCELL Technologies, will be moderated by Melissa Little, PhD, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Australia and Toshiro Sato, PhD of Keio University School of Medicine.

It is hard to believe that only six weeks ago, we were concluding the first ISSCR virtual annual meeting, reflecting on its success and the positive response we saw from our international community. We learned tremendously throughout this journey and are using all of this experience to create an exciting path forward for the coming year.

Scientists, clinicians, business leaders, ethicists, educators, and stem cell professionals from across the globe gathered to discuss the latest in stem cell science discovery and application. But instead of roaming the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston, USA, as planned, close to 4,000 members of the global stem cell community gathered around their computers, tablets, or mobile screens to share their discoveries, participate in workshops, network with colleagues, and advance their careers. Attendees were able to take in over 300 presentations and easily message speakers – all while skipping a long flight and wearing their favorite slippers.