Every year, thousands of scientists in stem cell research and regenerative medicine gather for the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Annual Meeting, a multi-day event highlighting emerging findings and their applications to human health.
ISSCR is an independent, global, nonprofit organization that promotes excellence in stem cell science and ethics, and advances in medicine. The Society also has an active policy arm, which seeks to educate regulators about the current state of stem cell research, advocate for funding, and promote measures to prevent the marketing of unproven stem cell therapies to patients.
For innovators in regenerative medicine, like Tisch MSRCNY Associate Director Dr. Violaine Harris, the 2026 conference was an opportunity to accelerate the field by exchanging research findings and connecting with peers from around the world.
“What distinguishes it from many other meetings is not simply its size but also its focus on presenting the most impactful, often unpublished, advances across the entire stem cell field from fundamental biology to clinical translation,” says Dr. Harris.
A Day in the Life
Conference days at ISSCR are full! Dr. Harris walked us through it: “Scientific sessions start bright and early at 8:30 a.m. with talks on different topics taking place in parallel,” she says.
“Each day, a plenary session highlights the most significant or broadly relevant topics, delivered by distinguished speakers or leaders in the field, where all attendees participate together. Toward the end of the day, we attend poster sessions where presenters stand next to a visual display of their research to answer questions and take part in lively discussions.”
This structure allows attendees to move between broad and niche ideas, with the varied exposure keeping scientists up to date with both field-wide trends and disease-specific findings.
Impactful Presentations
“Listening to Nobel Prize winner and stem cell pioneer Shinya Yamanaka speak is always a highlight,” reflects Dr. Harris. This year, he used his talk to look back at two decades of progress since his discovery of cellular reprogramming, which laid the foundation for Tisch MSRCNY's induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) research.
She also highlighted talks by Dr. Parmar and Dr. Loring, who presented recent clinical trial results on transplanting dopaminergic neurons in people with Parkinson's disease.
Beyond the Conference Center
The value of attending ISSCR’s annual meeting extends beyond the conference experience itself. On her return, Dr. Harris hosted an education session with the entire Tisch MSRCNY laboratory staff to share what she learned.
“Attending ISSCR helps us incorporate emerging methodologies and scientific insights into our research program and facilitates collaborations with leading investigators that can accelerate the translation of our lab’s research over the coming year,” she says.
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Want a deeper dive? ISSCR publishes Stem Cell Reports, an open-access journal sharing advances in stem cell research and clinical applications.
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