The Stem Cell Podcast

Guest:

Dr. Abdullah Khan is an Associate Professor of Tissue Engineering at the University of Oxford and a Group Leader at the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine. He discusses how his lab engineers complex human tissue models to study the cellular interactions that drive development, aging, and disease. He also explores how multi-organoid systems can model interactions between tissues such as the bone marrow and heart, and how these platforms could advance disease modeling, drug discovery, and preclinical research.

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The Stem Cell Science Round Up

Rescuing hPSC Differentiation – A chemical chromatin restoration approach reverses differentiation defects in human pluripotent stem cells, restoring their ability to generate diverse cell types and brain organoids.

A Tumor Organoid Atlas – Patient-derived tumor organoids reveal cancer-specific gene dependencies and therapeutic vulnerabilities, providing a resource for advancing precision oncology.

Mapping New Cancer Vulnerabilities – CRISPR screening of organoids and spheroids expands the Cancer Dependency Map, revealing cancer vulnerabilities and molecular subtypes missed by traditional cell lines.

Building Better Cancer Models – A large collection of next-generation cancer models captures much of the genetic and epigenetic diversity of patient tumors, creating a resource for studying cancer biology and treatment response.

Modeling Heart Valve Disease – Human iPSC-derived valve assembloid models heart valve development and reveals how mechanical forces and fluid flow shape valve formation and disease.

Heart Valves in the Lab – Stem cell-derived 3D heart valve tissues recapitulate key features of valve maturation and provide a human platform for studying inflammation and calcific valve disease.

Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Abdullah Khan.









































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Guest:

Nobel Laureate Dr. Shinya Yamanaka is the Director Emeritus of the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), President of the CiRA Foundation, Professor at Kyoto University, and Senior Investigator at the Gladstone Institutes. 20 years after the discovery of iPSCs, he discusses how his lab is advancing iPSC therapies toward the clinic while continuing to investigate the basic mechanisms underlying pluripotency, stem cell biology, and translation initiation. He also shares his vision for the future of regenerative medicine, the ethical challenges posed by emerging stem cell technologies, and the opportunities created by combining iPSC with advances such as CRISPR and organoids.

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The Stem Cell Science Round Up

Elephant iPS Cells – Researchers have generated the first induced pluripotent stem cells from Asian elephants, providing a new platform for conservation and disease research.

Epigenetic Cell Counter – Intestinal stem cells use an epigenetic division-counting mechanism to precisely control cell fate decisions during tissue maintenance.

Reversing Bone Marrow Aging – Long-term vitamin C supplementation partially reverses age-related changes in primate bone marrow and hematopoietic stem cell function.

Human Heart Atlas – A comprehensive atlas of human cardiac organoids reveals how signaling molecules regulate heart function and identifies pathways linked to heart failure.

Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Shinya Yamanaka.









































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Guest:

Dr. Charles Easley is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Research at the University of Georgia. He discusses how his lab uses pluripotent stem cells and in vitro models of spermatogenesis to investigate how environmental exposures affect male fertility. He also explores efforts to generate functional sperm from stem cells, develop regenerative therapies for male infertility, and use human-based models to advance drug discovery and male contraception.

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The Stem Cell Science Round Up

Tracking Brain Organoid Maturation – Scientists have found that human brain organoids cultured for five years continue to mature and retain a molecular memory of time spent in culture.

Oligodendrocytes and Cognitive Aging – Changes in oligodendrocytes and reduced NRF2 signaling are linked to cognitive decline during aging, identifying a potential therapeutic target.

Maturing iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes – Generating tetraploid iPSCs produces cardiomyocytes with more mature molecular, metabolic, and functional properties than conventional iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes.

Embryo Mechanics and Fertility – Reproductive aging increases embryo contractility and alters tissue mechanics, reducing the ability of embryos to implant successfully.

Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Charles Easley









































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Guest:

In July 2026, we attended ISSCR 2026, the annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, in Montreal. We spoke with delegates about their research, the scientific advances that stood out to them, and the emerging trends shaping the future of stem cell biology. They also reflect on their own conference highlights and the unique opportunities that meetings like ISSCR provide for collaboration, networking, and scientific discovery.

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Guest:

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









































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