It has been an exciting few months into to my presidential year. I have focused on engaging our members more in the society’s activities through new opportunities such as the Science Spotlights added to the 2023 Annual Meeting program and am enthusiastic to announce the 10 members of the new Stem Cell Reports Early Career Editorial Board.

Now, I am delighted to announce that ISSCR Board of Directors has expanded membership into two new categories to make all of the society’s benefits even more accessible to Trainees in 2023.

In past months, I’ve shared a number of new initiatives that the ISSCR has started to cultivate greater member engagement in the society’s activities. One of these initiatives is the new Science Spotlight sessions that I announced last month, giving ISSCR members the opportunity to design their own session at the 2023 Annual Meeting (proposals are open through 1 December). This month, I would like to provide an update on other member-led initiatives already in motion.

As we expand opportunities for members to engage with the society and our community throughout my presidential year, I’m pleased to announce a new type of session at the Annual Meeting, driven by ISSCR members—the Science Spotlight sessions.

This year, one of my chief goals is to create opportunities for our members to become more engaged with the society’s activities and to enhance our interaction with stem cell researchers from under-represented countries.

It is a great honor for me to assume the ISSCR Presidency during the 20th anniversary year of the Society’s founding. In the past 20 years, the ISSCR has embodied our shared passion for stem cell research. Thanks to all of you, the ISSCR became the world’s preeminent Society for stem cell research. The remarkable growth of the ISSCR is driven by our members’ exciting research and discoveries, many of which are being translated into life-saving treatments and new approaches in drug development for the benefit of humanity.