Excellence in stem cell science and applications to human health.

Cancer immunotherapy using T cells has proven to be effective against certain blood and skin cancers but is less effective in tumors like colorectal cancer, which is one of the most frequent cancers worldwide. One primary consideration with T cell immunotherapy is that it needs to be tailored to each patient individually through time- and cost-intensive, procedures. The procedures involve isolation of a patient’s own T cells, their expansion and genetic engineering to target the cells towards the patient’s cancer cells. This complex process that limits the widespread availability of such treatments. Consequently, an “off-the-shelf” T cell immunotherapy – one that can be universally used safely in any person – that is safe and effective in a wide range of cancer patients, including patients with solid cancers, is highly desirable.

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) has recognized five outstanding scientists with Poster Awards at the ISSCR 2026 Annual Meeting, honoring innovative research spanning developmental biology, disease modeling, regenerative medicine, and functional genomics.

Selected from more than 1,300 scientific posters presented during the meeting, the awards recognize exceptional research and scientific communication. Winning posters were evaluated by senior stem cell scientists attending the meeting, underscoring the rigor and peer recognition behind the awards.

The ISSCR submitted comments on proposed regulations from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that would reshape how the U.S. federal government funds scientific research. Among other changes, the proposed regulations would de-emphasize merit-based review of scientific grant applications and instead establish a political review process, enable mid-stream grant cancellations without cause, and place restrictions or significant bureaucratic burdens on international research collaborations. As outlined in the comment letter, these proposed changes would have harmful impacts to the progress of stem cell research and its translation to the clinic. Given this, the ISSCR respectfully urged OMB to withdraw the proposed regulations.

Phase 1b/2a study marks an important milestone in the development of regenerative medicine approaches for Huntington's disease

An update on the first clinical trial evaluating a pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem cell therapy for Huntington’s disease was presented today at the ISSCR 2026 Annual Meeting. The Phase 1b/2a REGEN4HD study represents a significant translational milestone following years of preclinical research, pivotal safety studies, regulatory engagement, and clinical trial development.

‍New, previously unpublished clinical data was presented today at ISSCR 2026 demonstrating that transplanted human neural progenitor cells survived for at least one year following subretinal transplantation in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), while maintaining a favorable safety profile.

‍Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of inherited retinal diseases that progressively causes vision loss currently has no treatment for most patients. Because thousands of different genetic mutations can cause the disease, developing mutation-specific gene therapies remains challenging. Cell-based therapies offer the potential for a gene-agnostic approach that could benefit a broader population of patients.

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) today announced the presentation of new clinical data from the STEM-PD Phase I/II clinical trial at the ISSCR 2026 Annual Meeting. The study reports 12-month outcomes evaluating a cryopreserved, off-the-shelf dopaminergic progenitor cell product derived from human pluripotent stem cells for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

The findings provide new insights into the safety, feasibility, and biological activity of stem cell-derived dopaminergic cell transplantation in patients with Parkinson’s disease and represent another important step in the clinical translation of regenerative medicine for neurodegenerative disease.

Today at the ISSCR 2026 Annual Meeting, Jeanne Loring, Ph.D., Scripps Research, USA, will present interim clinical findings from the first Phase 1/2a trial using autologous induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived dopamine neuron precursor cells, along with the novel quality control tools developed to manufacture these individualized therapies.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder caused by the gradual loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. As dopamine levels decline, people develop symptoms such as tremor, stiffness, slowed movement, and balance problems. While current medications can temporarily improve symptoms, they do not stop the disease from progressing or replace the neurons that have been lost.

Previously unpublished long-term clinical and imaging findings from participants treated with an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neural progenitor cell therapy for chronic ischemic stroke were presented today at the ISSCR 2026 Annual Meeting.

The data include extended follow-up from Phase I studies evaluating hNPC01, an iPSC-derived forebrain neural progenitor cell therapy designed to promote repair of stroke-damaged brain tissue. The findings provide new insight into the long-term safety, feasibility, and biological activity of this regenerative approach in patients living with chronic motor disability following stroke.

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) today opened its 2026 Annual Meeting in Montréal, bringing together thousands of scientists, clinicians, industry leaders, regulators, trainees, and patient advocates from around the world for four days of scientific discovery, collaboration, and innovation across the stem cell field.

‍Co-sponsored by STEMCELL Technologies, ISSCR 2026 showcases the full spectrum of stem cell research from fundamental discoveries in developmental biology to emerging clinical advances, disease modeling, regenerative medicine, gene editing, and new technologies that are shaping the future of biomedical science.

Encellin today announced new clinical progress from its ongoing Phase 1 study evaluating its implantable cell therapy platform for people with type 1 diabetes. The company made the announcement in connection with the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 2026 Annual Meeting, reporting non-fibrotic engraftment across all seven participants enrolled in the trial, along with host vascularization at the implant site and identification of transplanted islets in multiple participants. The findings build upon interim results first reported in January 2026 and reflect a larger patient cohort, with analysis of the full clinical dataset ongoing.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD), also known as coronary artery disease, is a leading cause of death and morbidity in western countries. IHD arises when blood vessels of the heart become clogged, blunting oxygen and nutrient supply to heart muscle cells, which eventually die off, leading to heart attack or heart failure.  Although larger blood vessels can be replaced surgically to restore blood flow, there is currently no treatment targeting smaller blood vessels, so-called microvessels, which are essential for the uniform blood circulation within the heart muscle. 

Yasuhiro Shudo and his team from Stanford University, USA have tested a method to regenerate microvessels in the heart with stem cell-derived vascular organoids. Their work was published today in Stem Cell Reports.

Nutritional imbalance during pregnancy can have long-lasting effects on the health status and disease susceptibility of the offspring. As such, high fructose intake through sweetened food and beverages in pregnant women has been associated with an increased susceptibility to diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as neurological and cognitive impairments in the offspring. Currently, it is not well understood how early life exposure to fructose has such long-lasting effects on the cellular and molecular level.  

In a recent paper published in Stem Cell Reports, Hiroya Yamada’s team from Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan found that the performance of adult rats in learning and memory tests was impaired when the rats had been exposed to high fructose in before birth by feeding their mothers with high fructose corn syrup

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) announces today that Bayer is a Founding Member of the ISSCR Consortium on Advanced Stem Cell-Based Models in Drug Discovery and Development, a global cross-sector initiative focused on accelerating the responsible integration of human stem cell-derived models into preclinical drug development.

‍Co-chaired by Daniela Cornacchia, AstraZeneca, USA, and Shuibing Chen, Weill Cornell Medicine, USA, the consortium is leading a coordinated international effort to advance the regulatory qualification and adoption of human stem cell-derived models, including organoids, engineered tissues, and microphysiological systems, as New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for drug discovery and development.

In a study published today in Stem Cell Reports, Shunsuke Yuri of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Japan and Ayako Isotani of the Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Japan, successfully generated rat-derived kidneys in mice using a technique known as interspecies blastocyst complementation. The researchers created mouse embryos genetically unable to form kidneys, leaving a developmental niche that could be filled by injected embryonic stem cells. When rat embryonic stem cells were introduced into these embryos, they contributed extensively to kidney formation, particularly to nephron progenitor cells and ureteric bud lineages, resulting in the generation of a rat cell-derived kidney.