ISSCR News
Transforming the Potential of Stem Cell Research
The field of stem cell science is advancing at an extraordinary pace, and yet the question remains: how do we ensure these innovations truly reach patients? To explore this, I spent much of August in the United States—Boston and the San Francisco Bay Area—meeting with leaders across academia (MIT, the Broad Institute, Tufts, Massachusetts General Hospital, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Gladstone, Stanford), major pharmaceutical companies (Novartis, Sanofi, Eisai), and emerging biotech ventures (Cellino, GC Therapeutics, Shinobi Therapeutics). Through lectures and exchanges, I gained a clearer view of the progress being made, the obstacles still ahead, and the breakthroughs most urgently needed. These conversations reminded me that the ISSCR’s most vital role is to serve as a trusted platform where such knowledge can be shared globally and effectively.
The ISSCR Partners with Nuffield Council on Bioethics to Compile Global Horizon Scan on Stem Cell Research
The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) today announced a new partnership with the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (NCOB) to conduct an ambitious international horizon scan focused on the future of stem cell science and its ethical implications. The initiative will help signal and inform updates to the ISSCR Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation and guide the Society’s broader public policy agenda.
Member Spotlight: Carolyn Sangokoya, MD, PhD
I enjoy problem-solving and designing molecular/genomic tools that help us to gain a new lens on biology. It's rewarding to do science with my team and see them gain skills, succeed, and find their niche.
The ISSCR Holds Inaugural Regulatory Meeting with Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency and South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
On 7 November 2024, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) held its first meeting with Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) and Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). Held at PMDA’s Tokyo headquarters, the meeting brought together senior officials from PMDA and MFDS alongside ISSCR leaders based in Japan, Korea, and the United States.
At this inaugural meeting, participants convened to discuss key topics related to the:
1) manufacture of human Pluripotent Stem Cell (hPSC) banks as starting materials for allogeneic, PSC-based therapies, and
2) genetic assessment of hPSCs, 3) jurisdictional differences in guidelines for biological Ancillary Materials (AM).
The participants also had the opportunity to gain insights into the regulatory approaches of the PMDA and MFDS regarding PSC-based products.
ISSCR Joins Coalition Effort to Support Advocacy for NIH Funding
The ISSCR is proud to join a broad coalition of scientific societies in affirming the essential role of the National Institutes of Health in advancing biomedical discovery and sustaining a robust research enterprise. As part of this effort, ISSCR members in the targeted states of Kansas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Utah have been invited to share stories that illustrate the vital importance of research investment. Additional opportunities for members in all states will be available in September. This campaign is led by our alliance partner, Research!America.
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