Showcasing Scientific Advances
As I reflect on the year ahead for the ISSCR, I am excited by the many initiatives that are coming to fruition in the first half of the year in particular. One of those is a big change with the leadership of our scientific journal, Stem Cell Reports. For this month’s message we hear from the new editor-in-chief Janet Rossant as she takes on the leadership of our Society publication. We also will learn more about the evolving work of the Scientific Programs Committee through the Chair Eran Meshorer and Vice Chair, Wei Xie. I will begin with Jane Rossant.
Q: What are you most looking forward to as the new editor-in-chief (EIC) of the Stem Cell Reports?
JR: I am excited to take on this important role as EIC for Stem Cell Reports, the Society’s journal of record. I look forward to working with the existing editors and editorial board. They have been diligent in their efforts to ensure that the research published in the journal is of the highest standards and rigor. And, of course, I am delighted that Martin Pera who has guided the journal so well for the past six years is going to stay on an active editor in the pluripotency domain. But I want to hear from the broader stem cell community, especially trainees and early career investigators, on how the journal can do more to enhance the experience of publishing with us. We want to make Stem Cell Reports the journal of choice for the best in stem cell science and clinical translation. Reach out to me at janet.rossant@sickkids.ca.
Q: Why did you take on this role?
JR: I have been an editor for a number of journals over the years and always find it a great way to keep up with all the latest in any particular field. So, what better way to learn about all the great science going on in the stem cell field than being editor-in-chief of a topline specialty journal in the stem cell domain. I am excited to learn more.
Q: How do you describe the mission and purpose of the journal?
JR: Stem Cell Reports’ mission is to provide an open access forum for communicating fundamental discoveries and new technologies in the biology of stem and progenitor cells from multiple organisms and sharing the steps towards clinical translation of those discoveries in understanding and treating human disease. Its values reflect those of its host society, ISSCR: trustworthy and rigorous science as judged by scientific editors and reviewers who respect the standards laid down by ISSCR. Stem Cell Reports aims to be the trusted voice for stem cell science globally.
Q: What kinds of papers/areas are you hoping to see more of in the coming year?
JR: I want the journal to represent the broad scope of stem cell science, from fundamental developmental biology of stem/progenitor cells in model organisms right through to the results of ongoing clinical trials with adult stem cells and progenitors and differentiated cells derived from pluripotent stem cells. Using stem cells to model human development and disease in novel ways through organoids, embryo models, and microfluidic devices, are just a few of exciting areas where we expect to see more papers in the next year.
The stem cell field as a whole is moving rapidly from discovery to application to human health. The content of ISSCR meetings and the content of the journal need to reflect that shift. I hope to see more preclinical studies designed to fill the gap between lab models and the first clinical trial in humans, as well as the results of clinical trials themselves. There are a lot of regulatory, practical and clinical challenges along the way. The journal should also be a place for groups to report honestly on such challenges in an open science, sharing mode so that all can learn from each other and accelerate progress. Technologies are also moving rapidly- single cell analysis, spatial transcriptomics, barcode lineage tracing, CRISPR and other high-throughput screening modes, all enhanced by the tools of AI.
The journal will publish novel technology applications to enhance stem cell science and resource articles documenting large scale datasets relevant to the field. We also aim to partner with other journals where initial large-scale studies, like the Single Cell Atlas, are published to provide a home for the more focused follow-up studies that are relevant to our readers. But at its heart the journal is about the best of stem cell science and its applications. We invite everyone to submit their best work to be judged by active stem cell researchers who understand the field and want to help you produce and publish impactful science.
Stem Cell Reports has celebrated more than 10 years of publishing impactful science and influential commentaries that shape the stem cell field. With gratitude for our previous editors-in-chief Christine Mummery and most recently Martin Pera, the journal is important to the ISSCR, and it will be exciting to see its growth under Janet’s leadership and as the field continues to evolve. One area of synergy with our Society journal is through scientific events. This year the journal has aligned closely with an ISSCR International Symposium that will be held in April in Athens, Neural Stem Cells: Capturing Complexity and Plasticity from the Cell to the Organism. The guest editors of a special issue of Stem Cell Reports on Neural Stem Cells, Fiona Doetsch and Rebecca Matsas, are also the co-organizers of the symposium. This first-time synergy between programming and the journal is another way to create meaningful connection between best-in-class benefits for our members. Next, we will hear more about the work of the Scientific Programs Committee led by Eran Meshorer and Wei Xie.
Q: What are the most important initiatives or projects the committee is working on?
EM: One of the most impactful initiatives was the establishment of the Early Career Editorial Board (ECEB). We announced a call for applications, received many competitive ones, and selected 10, all of whom are closely engaged with the journal. The second call for ECEB applications is now open. An additional initiative we recently implemented is to link the special issues with a conference. The first such joint linked event is to be held in Athens, Greece on April 3-4, 2025. Authors of accepted papers will be invited to present at the meeting, and vice versa: speakers will be invited to contribute reviews. Finally, we are striving to be as inclusive as possible and continually invite the wider community to suggest ideas for podcasts, special issues, special sessions, online meetings, and more.
Q: Can you share more about the talent and background of members on the committee and how the composition of members contributes to the committee’s work and effectiveness?
EM: The committee consists of leading experts (seven female and six male active researchers), covering different disciplines of stem cell biology, including pluripotency, adult stem cells, imaging, computational biology, cell biology and more, working on different organisms and cellular models, from different countries including France, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Israel, China and the USA, and at various career stages. This diverse background is essential for the committee’s effective work as we are always striving to cover as many diverse topics as possible and reach out to all.
Q: Describe how the committee’s work is helping to advance the field or create opportunities for stem cell research to grow and thrive?
EM: We are continuously working to increase the journal’s visibility, and we are always thinking of “bottom up” ideas to increase the engagement of the broader stem cell community within ISSCR in general and Stem Cell Reports in particular. By inviting the stem cell community to suggest ideas for online meetings, podcasts, special issues, emerging topics, debates, etc., we are reaching researchers all over the world including those who cannot attend the annual / international meetings physically. This allows the field to spread and grow and reach as many budding researchers as possible.
WX: Just to give a bit more details regarding Eran’s points, we invited scholars around the world to submit topics for which they would like to organize online seminars/mini-symposia through the ISSCR online platform. These seminars will be broadcast to reach out to audiences who are interested. The past seminars have been well received.
Q: What drives you to invest in/give so much of your time and talent to the ISSCR and the work of the committee? Describe the value you see in this volunteer work?
EM: The ISSCR has been my natural scientific “home” since I started my lab some 17 years ago (!). As a young researcher, I was able to present my work at the ISSCR annual (/international) meetings, which was instrumental in establishing collaborations and connections and reaching a wider audience. Now that I feel a part of the community, it is a real privilege to be able to contribute.
WX: ISSCR is one of the most international and inclusive academic organizations that I have seen and have been involved with. It actively approaches scholars from all over the world. Important issues were discussed thoroughly, and the decisions were made collectively by a group of top scientists from the community. I am very happy to be part of it to help promote not only stem cell research, but also the public policy efforts. I always appreciate the opportunity to connect with outstanding scientists and leaders in the field through ISSCR Scientific Programs Committee and various meetings with other committees or the Board of Directors. Working together with these scholars towards a common aim is absolutely a privilege. Finally, my lab is working in the field of transcription regulation in early embryos, where pluripotent and totipotent stem cells arise. I have always felt welcomed and connected with ISSCR.
Publications Committee: Chair, Eran Meshorer, PhD, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Institute of Life Sciences, Israel, Vice Chair, Wei Xie, PhD, Tsinghua University, China, Allison Bardin, PhD, Institut Curie, France, Gray Camp, PhD, Roche Institute for Translational Bioengineering, Switzerland, Maria Pia Cosma, PhD, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Spain, Fiona Doetsch, PhD, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Switzerland, Jianping Fu, PhD, University of Michigan, USA, Ruwanthi Gunawardane, PhD, Allen Institute, USA, Karl R. Koehler, PhD, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, USA, Hanna Mikkola, MD, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles, USA, Jing Qu, PhD, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China, Kaelyn Sumigray, PhD, Yale School of Medicine, USA, Sara Wickström, MD, PhD, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Germany, Ex Officio, Martin F. Pera, PhD, The Jackson Laboratory, USA.
It is exciting to see how the work of our editorial team and the intersection with scientific programming creates additional potential for collaboration and conversation with the ISSCR community. From Janet asking feedback on the journal to Eran and Wei seeking proposal for content and formats – ISSCR committees are leading the way forward in ways that aim to serve broadly the ISSCR membership. We rely on you – a diverse and international ISSCR membership – to guide us by exposing us to your ideas and inspiring us so that ISSCR investments can reflect the depth and breadth of our stem cell and regenerative community worldwide.
Acknowledgements: I am grateful to Kym Kilbourne for her continuous contributions and partnership in co-creating these monthly messages.