In this special episode recorded live in Montréal, Canada at ISSCR 2026, Dr. Michael May, President and CEO of the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM), and Dr. Janet Rothberg, Senior Director of Process and Analytical Development at CCRM, explore how stem cell discoveries can be translated into commercially viable therapies through scalable manufacturing, company creation, investment, automation, and artificial intelligence. They emphasize the importance of considering manufacturing, quality control, market selection, reimbursement, and the evolving standard of care much earlier in the development process. They also share their vision for a future in which robust bioprocessing, better use of data, and improved regulatory and reimbursement models make iPSC-derived therapies more affordable and widely accessible.

Photo Reference: Courtesy of Drs. Michael May and Janet Rothberg

Never miss updates about new episodes.

In July 2026, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual meeting in Montreal, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the final of four episodes from the meeting, where they discuss the challenges of making advanced cell and gene therapies accessible, the latest progress in organoids and regenerative medicine, and the importance of balancing ambitious clinical goals with rigorous scientific evidence. They also reflect on the meeting’s broader themes, from the enduring role of developmental biology and patient advocacy to the achievements of award recipients and the growing integration of new technologies such as AI, machine learning, and advanced imaging in stem cell research.

• Get a free wallchart showing how organoids are used as model systems to study infectious diseases, cancer, congenital disorders, and tissue regeneration.

Never miss updates about new episodes.

In July 2026, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual meeting in Montreal, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the third of four episodes, where Daylon and Arun discuss advances in synthetic biology, organoid engineering, regenerative medicine, developmental biology, and AI-driven approaches to stem cell research. They also reflect on inspiring plenary talks covering topics from pregnancy-associated tissue adaptation and lung development to AI-powered drug discovery, while sharing their excitement about conversations with conference delegates and the rapidly evolving future of the field.

• Strengthen reproducibility in your research with Applying the ISSCR Standards for Research, a free, on-demand training course.

Never miss updates about new episodes.

In July 2026, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual meeting in Montreal, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the second of four episodes, where Daylon and Arun discuss promising stem cell clinical trial updates for Parkinson’s disease, advances in cardiac, thymus, and vascular organoid research, and new technologies that are reshaping developmental biology and regenerative medicine. They also reflect on inspiring patient stories, tributes to stem cell pioneer Sir John Gurdon, and the growing role of AI and engineering in the future of stem cell research.

• Explore the possibilities for reproducible, high-quality hPSC differentiation with easy-to-use serum-free kits.

Never miss updates about new episodes.

In July 2026, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual meeting in Montreal, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the first of four episodes, where Daylon and Arun discuss the opening plenary, major advances in iPSC research, organoids, CRISPR, and space biology, as well as their live podcast recording on translating stem cell research into real-world therapies. They also share their impressions of the meeting, memorable sessions, and the excitement of reconnecting with colleagues and the stem cell community.

• Learn about organoid culture from the experts at STEMCELL using the Organoid Information Hub.

Never miss updates about new episodes.

This special episode, created in partnership with the ISSCR Early Career Advisory Committee, features two rising leaders in stem cell research. Dr. Yifei (Simon) Miao, a Professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, discusses engineering vascularized organoids and integrating bioengineering approaches to build more physiologically relevant human tissues. Dr. Anca Pașca, an Assistant Professor at Stanford Medicine, explores how stem cell-derived brain organoids and assembloids are advancing our understanding of neonatal brain injury and neurodevelopmental disorders, with the goal of developing new therapies for vulnerable infants.

If you’d like to nominate yourself or a colleague for our Early Career Researcher Series, submit your nomination here.

• Join us at ISSCR 2026 to discover breakthroughs, technologies, and clinical insights you can take back to your lab.
• Enter to win 350 US dollars or equivalent toward refreshments to fuel your journal club discussions.

Editing Early Human Development – Base editing of human embryos reveals that NANOG is essential for epiblast formation and human pluripotency.

Reprogramming Colorectal Cancer – Loss of GATA6 promotes colorectal cancer liver metastasis by driving multilineage cellular plasticity.

Precision Medicine for Pancreatitis – Patient-derived organoids identify chronic pancreatitis subtypes and reveal CFTR modulators as a potential treatment.

Tracking Heart Organoids – A wireless cantilever platform enables high-throughput measurement of contractile forces in human cardiac organoids.

Photo Reference: Courtesy of Drs. Yifei (Simon) Miao and Anca Pasca

Never miss updates about new episodes.

Dr. Mekayla Storer is an Associate Professor at the University of Cambridge and a Principal Investigator at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. She discusses how mammalian digit tips regenerate after injury, focusing on the formation of the blastema and the cellular and molecular mechanisms that distinguish regeneration from scarring. She highlights the role of the extracellular matrix, tissue mechanics, and regenerative microenvironments in directing tissue repair, and explores how insights from digit tip regeneration may inform strategies to promote regeneration in other organs.

• Join us at ISSCR and discover breakthroughs, technologies, and clinical insights you can take back to your lab.
• Kick start your own journal club using our free toolkit equipped with downloadable checklists and templates.

Modeling EMT in Human Cells – Scientists have developed a human iPSC-based platform that enables standardized, multimodal analysis of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition dynamics across 2D and 3D contexts.

Modeling Persistent Ebola Infection – Human brain organoids reveal how persistent Ebola virus infection in neural cells drives long-term inflammation and viral evolution.

Reducing Retinal Graft Rejection – Transient JAK inhibition reduces immune rejection of stem cell-derived retinal grafts and improves visual recovery.

Enhancing Renal Regeneration – Targeting ENPP1 with a therapeutic antibody enhances regeneration and restores function after acute kidney injury.

Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Mekayla Storer

Never miss updates about new episodes.

Dr. Filipa Simões is a Group Leader at the University of Oxford and Co-Director of the Oxford Organoid Hub. She discusses how macrophages shape heart development, repair, and regeneration, and how cellular crosstalk within the cardiac niche influences tissue outcomes after injury. Using zebrafish models, stem cell–derived cardiac organoids, and spatial genomics approaches, she explores the molecular signals that govern macrophage identity and function, with the goal of uncovering new strategies to promote cardiac regeneration and limit fibrosis.

• Join us at ISSCR and discover the breakthroughs and technologies you can take straight back to your lab.
• Enter to win 350 US dollars or equivalent towards refreshments to fuel your next journal club.

iPSC Therapy for Heart Failure – Engineered heart muscle grafts derived from iPSCs increased heart wall thickness and improved cardiac function in patients with heart failure.

Inflammatory Memory in HSCs – A distinct human HSC subset retains inflammatory memory, influencing blood production, aging, and disease risk.

Organoid-Mediated Vision Recovery – Transplanted human retinal organoids partially restored vision after complete optic nerve transection in rats.

Improving HSPC Gene Therapy – A new selection strategy enriches precisely edited hematopoietic stem cells while reducing unwanted genomic alterations.

Photo Reference: Courtesy of Filipa Simões.

Never miss updates about new episodes.