ISSCR News


ISSCR Remembers James Till
Announcements Kym Kilbourne Announcements Kym Kilbourne

ISSCR Remembers James Till

The global stem cell community remembers the life and profound contributions of James Till, who passed away on May 18 at the age of 94. Alongside the late Ernest McCulloch, Dr. Till conducted pioneering research in the 1960s that proved the existence of stem cells, laying the groundwork for bone marrow transplantation, regenerative medicine, and stem cell-based therapies. His transformative discoveries revolutionized biomedical science by identifying blood-forming stem cells and the principle of self-renewal. A dedicated educator and leader, Dr. Till also advanced research in cancer care ethics and patient decision-making. His legacy endures through the many accolades he received and the global impact of his scientific vision and mentorship.

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New Podcast Episode. Parkinson’s Disease, Cell Therapy, and Exercise
Announcements Megan Koch Announcements Megan Koch

New Podcast Episode. Parkinson’s Disease, Cell Therapy, and Exercise

The potential of pluripotent stem cells and the ability to scale and differentiate them to generate large numbers of enriched cell populations has created new opportunities and approaches to treat human disease. Preclinical proof-of-principle data demonstrates that stem cell-derived neural grafts can be used to reverse symptoms of multiple neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s Disease. Cell grafts enriched with dopaminergic neurons, can structurally and functionally integrate in the brain of Parkinson’s Disease models to reverse motor deficits, a finding which has launched several clinical trials. While the results in animal models is essential proof-of-concept, the survival and integration of these cells is suboptimal compared to treatments from fetal-derived ventral midbrain grafts.  An area of preclinical and clinical research showing promise in influencing neuronal survival and plasticity is exercise. The benefits of exercise on neural function and disease progression have been widely reported and they have also been shown to enhance the survival and integration of transplanted cells in models of some neurological diseases. However, there is limited data on the benefit of exercise on the functional outcomes of neural grafts in Parkinson’s Disease models. The guests on today’s program will discuss their recent study looking at the effect of exercise on cellular engraftment and functional recovery in animal models of Parkinson’s Disease and the implications for clinical outcomes.

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New Guidance from ISSCR Ethics Committee Clarifies Scientific Justification for Stem Cell and Embryo Research
Announcements Kym Kilbourne Announcements Kym Kilbourne

New Guidance from ISSCR Ethics Committee Clarifies Scientific Justification for Stem Cell and Embryo Research

In an article published today in Stem Cell Reports complements the 2021 ISSCR Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, providing essential clarification on what constitutes “adequate and appropriate scientific justification” in studies involving human pluripotent stem cells, embryos, and related research.

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