Accelerating PSC-Derived Cell Therapies: Starting with the End in Mind
Join the ISSCR in Boston, USA.
Program | Registration | Abstracts | Travel | Sponsor
Program Description: Developing Pluripotent Stem Cell (PSC)-derived cell therapies presents exciting opportunities for novel and potentially curative approaches to intractable diseases, but also unique challenges that accompany a complex biological drug product. By working from the patient backwards, we can mitigate these challenges and optimize cell therapy development when each step is informed by the requirements of the final product. This unique program reverses the traditional “bench-to-bedside” approach by starting with the end goal – a successful and effective cell therapy - in mind when considering the entire development process. Connect with global leaders on the frontlines of developing ESC & iPSC-derived cell therapies as we bring together pioneers leading the most advanced clinical trials and innovators developing the next generation of technologies and platforms that will shape the future of the field.
Who should attend?
Academic and industry scientists involved in the development of iPSC/ESC-derived cell therapies at all stages of the pipeline, including researchers, clinicians, physician-scientists, regulators, manufacturers, CDMOs, preclinical and clinical trial professionals, CROs, investors, and innovators - from discovery through clinical application.
Program
Keynote Speaker
George Church, PhD
Session Topics
Clinical Trials: Phase II & Beyond
Katharine Spink, PhD, Dark Horse Consulting, USA
Joohi Jimenez-Shahed, MD, Mount Sinai, USA
Felicia Pagliuca, PhD, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, USA
Clinical Trials: Early Trials
Takehiko Kaneko, MD, Heartseed, Japan
Yoshinori Oie, MD, PhD, Osaka University, Japan
Patient Perspective Panel Discussion
Luke Rosen, KIF1A.ORG, USA
Maria L. De Leon, MD, The Michael J. Fox Foundation , USA
“I Wish I Would Have”: Lessons Learned in Product Development
Greg Russotti, PhD, Century Therapeutics, USA
Robert Zweigerdt, PhD, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany
Uma Lakshmipathy, PhD, Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA
Now You See Me, Now You Don’t: Ensuring Cell Survival
Dan Kemp, PhD, Shinobi Therapeutics, USA
Sam Wadsworth, PhD, Aspect Biosystems, Canada
Next Generation Cell Therapies in the Pipeline
Alex Ng, PhD, GC Therapeutics, USA
Laura Koivusalo, PhD, StemSight, Finland
Gabsang Lee, DVM, PhD, Johns Hopkins University, USA
Organizers
Claire Henchcliffe, MD, PhD (Co—Chair)
UCI, USA
Stefan Irion, MD
BlueRock Therapeutics, USA
Ana Hidalgo-Simon, MD, PhD
reNEW & LUMC, The Netherlands
Erin Kimbrel, PhD (Co—Chair)
Astellas Pharmaceuticals, USA
Thomas Hassing Ronøe Carlsen, PhD
Cellerator, Denmark
Felicia Pagliuca, PhD
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, USA
Registration
Early Registration Rates (end on 10 September 2025)
ISSCR Student/Postdoc Members - $250 USD
ISSCR Full/Affiliate Members - $450 USD
Non-Members - $745 USD
Regular Registration Rates
ISSCR Student/Postdoc Members - $344 USD
ISSCR Full/Affiliate Members - $575 USD
Non-Members - $998 USD
Countries identified by the World Bank as "low- and low-middle income countries"
receive a 50% reduction on registration rates. Eligible countries can be found here.
Cancellation & Refund Deadline: Wednesday, 12 November 2025
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To cancel your registration, a written request must be submitted to isscr@isscr.org before the deadline. Registration fees will be refunded minus a $150.00 USD cancellation fee. No refunds will be granted after 12 November 2025.
If the 2025 Boston International Symposium transitions to a fully virtual event, in-person registration will automatically be transferred to a virtual registration and the price difference will be refunded based on the time of registration. Should a registrant choose not to attend the fully virtual event, the registrant is eligible to request a full refund of the registration by providing a written request to isscr@isscr.org by 12 November 2025. After that time, all previously stated cancellation policies will apply.
If the event is transferred to a virtual event or cancelled in its entirety, ISSCR's responsibility is limited to only the registration fees paid. ISSCR is not responsible for other expenses incurred such as airfare and hotel accommodations.
Warning: Beware of false housing and registration sites. As a reminder, please only use the ISSCR website for trusted information regarding registration and housing. In doubt, please check with ISSCR (isscr@isscr.org).
Abstracts
Abstract submission deadline: 10 September 2025
Important Dates:
10 September 2025 11:59 PM EDT (USA) | Abstract Submission Closes
7 October 2025 4:00 PM EDT (USA) | Oral and Poster Presentation notifications will be sent.
15 October 2025 4:00 PM EDT (USA) | Abstract-selected oral and poster presenters MUST REGISTER and accept for “in-person” attendance. If you do not register by the deadline, your abstract will be removed from the program.
15 October 2025 4:00 PM EDT (USA) | Any changes to the abstract's presenting author need to be submitted by this date. The new presenter must be a co-author on the submitted abstract and must be a registered attendee.
For inquiries regarding abstracts, please direct them to abstracts@isscr.org
If you have any questions pertaining to registration, send them to isscr@isscr.org
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Clinical Trials: Phase II & Beyond
Clinical Trials: Early Trials
“I Wish I Would Have”: Lessons Learned in Product Development
Now You See Me, Now You Don’t: Ensuring Cell Survival
Next Generation Cell Therapies in the Pipeline
Advances in Cell Therapy Technologies, Platforms, and Manufacturing
Travel & Accommodations
Venue
Hyatt Regency Boston Cambridge
575 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA 02139
USA
Special Lufthansa Group Airlines Fares
You can benefit from the cooperation with the Lufthansa Group airlines (Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Lufthansa and SWISS) and optimize your travel costs. The extensive route network with around 310 destinations worldwide, as well as additional destinations by Air Canada and United Airlines on North Atlantic routes, is available to you.
Click on the link https://www.lufthansa.com/event/isscr-bos-2025 and the discounted rates will be displayed.
Lufthansa Group Meetings & Events offers flexibility to you. The discounted rates are valid on flights up to one week before and one week after the event.
The Lufthansa Group airlines look forward to welcoming you on board!
Hotels
ISSCR has not secured a guest room block for attendees. Here are a few hotels in the area:
Hyatt Regency Boston Cambridge
575 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
0-minute walk (symposium venue)
Courtyard Boston Cambridge
777 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
16-minute walk/3-minute drive from venue
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel
400 Soldiers Field Road
Boston, MA 02134 USA
23-minute walk/5-minute drive from venue
Boston Marriott Cambridge
50 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
25-minute walk/6-minute drive from venue
Residence Inn Boston Cambridge
120 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
24-minute walk/6-minute drive from venue
Travel
Ground Transportation
The Hyatt Regency Boston Cambridge is located approximately 7 miles from Boston Logon International Airport. and an estimated 17-minute car ride.
Taxis are available on the Arrivals level at Boston Logan International Airport at Terminals A, B, C and E.
Ride app service is available, but only in designated picked up areas. Click here for additional information.
PLEASE NOTE: ISSCR has not contracted with a travel agency or service provider for this meeting.
Sponsor & Exhibit
This ISSCR event provides a fantastic opportunity to raise your company's visibility, forge new connections, and develop new partnerships with the global scientific community advancing the stem cell field! Share your science, products, tools that can help support and accelerate their research.
Contact exhibits@isscr.org to partner with us at this event!
Logo Toolkit for Sponsors & Exhibitors
Sponsors and exhibitors and welcome to use the below meeting logos to promote their participation in the event. However, attendees, speakers, presenters, sponsors, exhibitors, and partners may not use or edit the corporate, main ISSCR logo in any promotions. If you would like a custom graphic, please contact ISSCR’s Marketing Team at marketing@isscr.org.
This program is made possible by:
Sponsors
Exhibitors
BioLamina | Bio-Techne | MaxWell Biosystems | REPROCELL | PeptiGrowth
Official Meeting Journal
Stem Cell Reports is an open access forum communicating basic discoveries in stem cell research, in addition to translational and clinical studies. Stem Cell Reports focuses on manuscripts that report original research with conceptual or practical advances that are of broad interest to stem cell biologists and clinicians.