iPSC 20th Anniversary Symposium

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.  

Program

Session Topics

Opening Keynote

Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, CiRA, Kyoto University and CiRA Foundation, Japan & Gladstone Institutes, USA
Janet Rossant, PhD,‍  ‍Stem Cell Reports Editor-in-Chief, Senior Scientist Emeritus, SickKids Research Institute, University of Toronto, 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 
Ivana Barbaric, DPhil, University of Sheffield, UK
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 

Genetic Variability and Personalization in iPSC Research

Yasuhiro Takashima, MD, PhD, CiRA, Kyoto University, Japan 
Magdalena Kasendra, PhD, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center, 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 

Future Directions of iPSC Innovation

Janet Rossant, FRS, PhD, Senior Scientist Emeritus, The Hospital for Sick Children and Editor-in Chief, Stem Cell Reports, Canada 
Christine Mummery, PhD, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine, reNEW Leiden, Netherlands
Takanori Takebe, MD, PhD, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, USA and The University of Osaka and Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan
Bruce R. Conklin, MD, Gladstone Institutes, USA 
Azadeh Golipour, PhD, GC Therapeutics, 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 

Fireside Chat

Janet Rossant, FRS, PhD, Senior Scientist Emeritus, The Hospital for Sick Children and Editor-in Chief, Stem Cell Reports, Canada 
Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, CiRA, Kyoto University and CiRA Foundation, Japan & Gladstone Institute, USA