20 Years of iPSC Discovery: A Celebration and Vision for the Future
Join the ISSCR in Kyoto, Japan.
Program | Registration | Abstracts | Sponsor | Ambassadors | Travel
Program Description: The discovery of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has revolutionized biomedical research and regenerative medicine. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of this transformative breakthrough, the ISSCR is bringing together the global stem cell community in Kyoto, the birthplace of iPS cells, for a three-day symposium. This program will reflect on two decades of remarkable progress and explore the future of the field.
Sessions will cover a range of topics including fundamental iPSC biology, technological innovations, disease modeling, and translational and clinical applications. Attendees will hear from leading scientists, clinicians, and industry experts, with discussions spanning molecular mechanisms, genetic variability, bioengineering advances, as well as ethics and policy.
Who should attend?
Researchers, clinicians, students, and industry professionals from the global stem cell community who work with or are interested in iPSC technology.
This program is in partnership with:
This program is co-sponsored by:
Program
Session Topics
Opening Keynote
Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, CiRA, Kyoto University and CiRA Foundation, Japan & Gladstone Institute, USA
Janet Rossant, FRS, PhD, Senior Scientist Emeritus, The Hospital for Sick Children and Editor-in Chief, Stem Cell Reports, Canada
George Q. Daley, MD, PhD, Harvard Medical School, USA
Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms in iPSC Biology
Yasuhiro Takashima, MD, PhD, CiRA, Kyoto University, Japan
Nissim Benvenisty, MD, PhD, The Hebrew University, Israel
Maike Sander, MD, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Germany
iPSC Differentiation and Maturation
Karl R. Koehler, PhD, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, USA
Elizabeth Ng, PhD, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine, reNEW Melbourne and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Australia
Olivier Pourquié, PhD, Harvard Medical School, USA
Disease Modeling with iPS Cells
Bruce R. Conklin, MD, Gladstone Institutes, USA
Silvia Velasco, PhD, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine, reNEW Melbourne and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Australia
Mingxia Gu, MD, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
Clinical Applications of iPS Cells
Masayo Takahashi, MD, PhD, Vision Care Inc., and Kobe City Eye Hospital, Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Bob Valamehr, PhD, Fate Therapeutics, USA
Xiaokui Zhang, PhD, Aspen Neuroscience, Inc., USA
Bioengineering Approaches in iPSC Modeling
Orly Reiner, PhD, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel
Philipp Wörsdörfer, PhD, University of Würzburg, Germany
Harsha D. Devalla, PhD, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Netherlands
Enabling Technologies for the Next Breakthrough
Azadeh Golipour, PhD, GC Therapeutics, USA
Yoshiyuki Sankai, PhD, Professor, University of Tsukuba; President and CEO, CYBERDYNE Inc.; Program Director, SIP (Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program), Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, Japan
Ruwanthi Gunawardane, PhD, Allen Institute for Cell Science, USA
Muzlifah Haniffa, FMedSci, Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK
Organizers
Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD (Chair)
CiRA, Kyoto University and CiRA Foundation, Japan and Gladstone Institute, USA
Jun Takahashi, MD, PhD
CiRA, Kyoto University, Japan
Emily Titus, PhD
Notch Therapeutics, Canada
Christine Mummery, PhD
Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands
Takanori Takebe, MD, PhD
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, USA and The University of Osaka and Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan
Registration
Early Registration Rates (ends on 29 July 2026)
ISSCR Student Member - $315 USD
ISSCR Postdoc Member - $450 USD
ISSCR Full/Affiliate Members - $650 USD
Non-Members - $1150 USD
Regular Registration Rates
ISSCR Student Member - $350 USD
ISSCR Postdoc Member - $500 USD
ISSCR Full/Affiliate Members - $725 USD
Non-Members - $1150 USD
Countries identified by the World Bank as "low- and low-middle income countries"
receive a 50% reduction on registration rates. Eligible countries can be found here.
Cancellation & Refund Deadline: Wednesday, 23 September 2026
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To cancel your registration, a written request must be submitted to isscr@isscr.org before the deadline. Registration fees will be refunded minus a $150.00 USD cancellation fee. No refunds will be granted after 23 September 2026 .
If the 2025 Kyoto International Symposium transitions to a fully virtual event, in-person registration will automatically be transferred to a virtual registration and the price difference will be refunded based on the time of registration. Should a registrant choose not to attend the fully virtual event, the registrant is eligible to request a full refund of the registration by providing a written request to isscr@isscr.org by 23 September 2026 . After that time, all previously stated cancellation policies will apply.
If the event is transferred to a virtual event or cancelled in its entirety, ISSCR's responsibility is limited to only the registration fees paid. ISSCR is not responsible for other expenses incurred such as airfare and hotel accommodations.
Warning: Beware of false housing and registration sites. As a reminder, please only use the ISSCR website for trusted information regarding registration and housing. In doubt, please check with ISSCR (isscr@isscr.org).
Abstracts
Important Dates:
29 July 2026 11:59 PM EDT (USA) | Abstract Submission Closes
31 August 4:00 PM EDT (USA) | Oral and Poster Presentation notifications will be sent.
9 September 2026 4:00 PM EDT (USA) | Abstract-selected oral and poster presenters MUST REGISTER and accept for “in-person” attendance. If you do not register by the deadline, your abstract will be removed from the program.
9 September 2026 4:00 PM EDT (USA) | Any changes to the abstract's presenting author need to be submitted by this date. The new presenter must be a co-author on the submitted abstract and must be a registered attendee.
For inquiries regarding abstracts, please direct them to abstracts@isscr.org
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Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms in iPSC Biology
iPSC Differentiation and Maturation
Disease Modeling with iPS Cells
Clinical Applications of iPS Cells
Bioengineering Approaches in iPSC Modeling
Enabling Technologies for the Next Breakthrough
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Oral submissions will be considered for a ten (10) minute presentation during a session.
Posters will be displayed in person in the poster area for one assigned day.
Refer to these detailed Abstract Submission Instructions
There is a non-refundable $45.00 USD abstract submission fee for each abstract submitted. This is NOT the meeting registration fee. All presenters must be registered for the meeting.
All submitted abstracts are evaluated by the Program/Organizing Committee to ensure that they meet submission standards:
Abstracts must include substantive results, whether experimental, calculated, or theoretical.
Clinical case studies will not be considered.
Abstracts of commercial products must include experimentally derived quantitative data.
Research described must adhere to the principles in the ISSCR Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation.
Results are the work of the listed author(s).
Submitters must adhere to Abstract Submission Agreement.
Ambassadors
The ISSCR is accepting applications for the ISSCR iPSC 20th Anniversary Symposium Ambassador Program. Applications are due 27 March 2026.
ISSCR iPSC 20th Anniversary Symposium Ambassadors will be responsible for posting about the Kyoto symposium on their personal social media accounts at least two (2) times per month prior to and during the event on 20-22 October 2026.
The ISSCR will provide graphics and suggested language and encourages ambassadors to include specific aspects of the event that they are most looking forward to in order to personalize their posts.
ISSCR iPSC 20th Anniversary Symposium Ambassadors will receive:
Recognition on the event webpage, on a dedicated social media post, and on a walk-slide onsite at the meeting as an official ISSCR iPSC 20th Anniversary Symposium Ambassador
10% registration rate discount for the ISSCR iPSC 20th Anniversary Symposium
An official ISSCR Ambassador Certificate and Formal Letter of Recognition from the ISSCR President
ISSCR iPSC 20th Anniversary Symposium Ambassadors must have an active ISSCR membership through 2026.
Travel & Accommodations
Kyoto University, Yoshida Campus, Clock Tower Centennial Hall
36 Yoshidahonmachi
Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8317, Japan
Sponsor & Exhibit
This ISSCR event provides a fantastic opportunity to raise your company’s visibility and develop connections with the global scientific community advancing the stem cell field! Share your products, tools, and services that can help support and accelerate their research.
Contact exhibits@isscr.org to partner with us at this event!
This program is made possible by:
Sponsors
Official Meeting Journal
Stem Cell Reports is an open access forum communicating basic discoveries in stem cell research, in addition to translational and clinical studies. Stem Cell Reports focuses on manuscripts that report original research with conceptual or practical advances that are of broad interest to stem cell biologists and clinicians.
Logo Toolkit for Sponsors & Exhibitors
Sponsors and exhibitors and welcome to use the below meeting logos to promote their participation in the event. However, attendees, speakers, presenters, sponsors, exhibitors, and partners may not use or edit the corporate, main ISSCR logo in any promotions. If you would like a custom graphic, please contact ISSCR’s Marketing Team at marketing@isscr.org.
