The Stem Cell Podcast
A podcast dedicated to exploring stem cell research and related scientific topics. Each episode features interviews with researchers and experts in the field, discussing recent discoveries and developments. The show aims to make complex stem cell science accessible to a broader audience. It is produced by STEMCELL Technologies, a company specializing in cell culture media and reagents.
Episodes
Ep. 330: “Decoding Cell Fate” Featuring Dr. Yonatan Stelzer
Guest:
Dr. Yonatan Stelzer is a Principal Investigator at the Weizmann Institute of Science. He discusses how his lab combines developmental biology, epigenetics, and single-cell technologies to understand how cells acquire distinct identities during embryonic development. He also explores building quantitative models that track development across space and time, how extracel
Ep. 329: “Decoding Spermatogenesis” Featuring Dr. Charles Easley
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
Ep. 328: “Modeling Human Microenvironments” Featuring Dr. Abdullah Khan
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 interac
Ep. 327: “The iPSC Revolution” Featuring Dr. Shinya Yamanaka
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 inv
Ep. 326: “ISSCR 2026: On the Ground”
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 mee
Ep. 325: “Live at ISSCR 2026: Scaling and Manufacturing of PSC-Derived Therapies” Featuring Drs. Michael May and Janet Rothberg
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 man
ISSCR 2026: Day 4
Guest:
In July 2026, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual meeting in Montreal, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the final of four episodes from the meeting, where they discuss the challenges of making advanced cell and gene therapies accessible, the latest progress in orga
ISSCR 2026: Day 3
Guest:
In July 2026, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual meeting in Montreal, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the third of four episodes, where Daylon and Arun discuss advances in synthetic biology, organoid engineering, regenerative medicine, developmental biology, and A
ISSCR 2026: Day 2
Guest:
In July 2026, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual meeting in Montreal, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the second of four episodes, where Daylon and Arun discuss promising stem cell clinical trial updates for Parkinson’s disease, advances in cardiac, thymus,
ISSCR 2026: Day 1
Guest:
In July 2026, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual meeting in Montreal, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the first of four episodes, where Daylon and Arun discuss the opening plenary, major advances in iPSC research, organoids, CRISPR, and space biology, as well as
Ep. 324: “From Stem Cells to Living Tissues” Featuring Drs. Yifei Miao and Anca Pasca
This quarterly special episode, created in partnership with the ISSCR Early Career Advisory Committee, features two rising leaders in stem cell research. Dr. Yifei (Simon) Miao, a Professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, discusses engineering vascularized organoids and integrating bioengineering approaches to build more physiologically relevant human tissues. Dr. Anca Pașca, an Assistant Prof
Ep. 323: “Building the Blastema” Featuring Dr. Mekayla Storer
Dr. Mekayla Storer is an Associate Professor at the University of Cambridge and a Principal Investigator at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. She discusses how mammalian digit tips regenerate after injury, focusing on the formation of the blastema and the cellular and molecular mechanisms that distinguish regeneration from scarring. She highlights the role of the extracellular matrix, tissue mech
Ep. 322: “Healing Hearts with Macrophages” Featuring Dr. Filipa Simões
Dr. Filipa Simões is a Group Leader at the University of Oxford and Co-Director of the Oxford Organoid Hub. She discusses how macrophages shape heart development, repair, and regeneration, and how cellular crosstalk within the cardiac niche influences tissue outcomes after injury. Using zebrafish models, stem cell–derived cardiac organoids, and spatial genomics approaches, she explores the molecul
Ep. 321: “Decoding Blood Stem Cells” Featuring Dr. Vijay Sankaran
Dr. Vijay Sankaran is a Professor at Harvard Medical School and Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He discusses how his lab uses human genetics and stem cell biology to uncover mechanisms regulating hematopoiesis and blood disease, including the discovery of key regulators such as BCL11A and HOTSCRAMBL. He also explores how advances in genome editing, stem cell engineering, and s
Ep. 320: “Cancer Under Pressure” Featuring Dr. Meenal Datta
Dr. Minal Datta is an Associate Professor at the University of Notre Dame and leader of the Tumor Immune Microenvironment Mechanics (TIME) Lab. She discusses how mechanical forces within tumors shape cancer progression and immune responses, with a focus on glioblastoma. She highlights how immunomechanics and mechanobiology influence tumor growth, treatment resistance, and immune cell function, and
Ep. 319: “Building Better iPSCs” Featuring Dr. Andrew Gaffney
Dr. Andrew Gaffney is Vice President, iPSC Platform at STEMCELL Technologies. In this episode, he discusses how his team is advancing pluripotent stem cell applications through high-quality iPSC line development, gene editing, organoid production, and GMP manufacturing for translational and clinical use. He also highlights key challenges in the field, including reproducibility, standardization, ge
Ep. 318: “Modeling Reproduction and Endocrinology” Featuring Dr. Kotaro Sasaki
Dr. Kotaro Sasaki is an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He discusses how his lab uses human pluripotent stem cells to model germ cell development and endocrine organs such as the testis and adrenal gland. He highlights progress toward in vitro gametogenesis, including generating spermatogonial-like cells and reconstructing testicular environments, as well as recent advances
Ep. 317: “Engineering the Human Heart” Featuring Dr. Aitor Aguirre
Dr. Aitor Aguirre is an Associate Professor at Michigan State University and Director of the Stem Cell Core. In this episode, he discusses how his lab uses pluripotent stem cells and cardiac organoids to model human heart development and disease. He highlights the role of self-organization and bioengineering in building complex heart models, including assembloids with immune and neural components,
Ep. 316: “Primate Embryogenesis” Featuring Dr. Thorsten Boroviak
Dr. Thorsten Boroviak is an Assistant Professor at the University of Cambridge and a member of the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. He discusses how stem cell–based embryo models are helping researchers study early human and primate development, including implantation and gastrulation. He also talks about using primate systems such as marmoset to understand human development, the role of biomechanic
Ep. 315: “Advanced Stem Cell-Based Models” Featuring Drs. Shuibing Chen and Hans Clevers
Drs. Shuibing Chen and Hans Clevers, members of the Steering Committee for the ISSCR Consortium on Advanced Stem Cell-Based Models in Drug Discovery and Development, explore how stem cell–derived organoids and other new approach methodologies (NAMs) can complement or replace animal models in preclinical research. The discussion highlights the need for standardization, regulatory alignment, and ind
Ep. 314: “ISSCR 2026: Real Discoveries, Real Collaboration, Real Potential” Featuring Drs. Fiona Doetsch & Nozomu Yachie
Drs. Fiona Doetsch and Nozomu Yachie, Co-Chairs of the ISSCR 2026 Annual Meeting Program Committee, join the podcast to discuss what to expect at the upcoming ISSCR 2026 meeting taking place in Montreal, Canada from July 8 - 11, 2026.
Ep. 313: “Cardiovascular Disease Mechanisms” Featuring Dr. Joseph Wu
Dr. Joseph Wu is a Professor of Medicine and Radiology and the Director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute. He talks about the importance of pharmacology knowledge in drug discovery. He also discusses his early iPSC research, investigating vaccine-induced myocarditis, and embracing New Approach Methodologies (NAMs).
Ep. 312: “Biomanufacturing in Space” Featuring Dr. Pinar Mesci
Dr. Pinar Mesci is the Global Head of Biomanufacturing and Biotechnology at Axiom Space, where she manages a portfolio focused on biomedical research programs including stem cells, tissue engineering, disease modeling, cancer research, and DNA-inspired nanomaterials. She talks about her early career developing brain organoid models, transitioning to the space industry, and how microgravity affects
Ep. 311: “Congenital Heart Disease” Featuring Dr. Deepak Srivastava
Dr. Deepak Srivastava is the President of the Gladstone Institutes and Director of the Roddenberry Stem Cell Center. His lab is focused on the gene networks that guide cardiac development. He talks about their recent work investigating heart defects in Down syndrome and strategies for delivering therapies to the heart. He also talks about how to incentivize the development and commercialization of
Ep. 310: “Epithelial Organoids” Featuring Dr. Hans Clevers
Dr. Hans Clevers is a Professor of Molecular Genetics and Distinguished Group Leader at the University of Utrecht. In this episode, he discusses snake gut and lung organoids, transitioning from academia to industry, and the challenges and complexities of creating a cell therapy.
Ep. 309: “Neuronal Cell Fate and Function” Featuring Dr. Thomas Vierbuchen
Dr. Thomas Vierbuchen is Assistant Professor of Developmental Biology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In this episode, he talks about using PSCs to model neurodevelopmental processes. He also discusses his direct reprogramming work and his lab's recent study on OTX2 in gastrulation.
Ep. 308: “Regeneration in the Cerebellum” Featuring Dr. Sumru Bayin
Dr. Sumru Bayin is a Group Leader at the Gurdon Institute at the University of Cambridge. She talks about her work on regeneration in the neonatal mouse cerebellum and how cerebellar interneurons differentiate. She also discusses organizing a workshop to facilitate collaborations in regenerative biology, and her memories of the late Sir John Gurdon.
Ep. 307: “Vascular Biology” Featuring Dr. Juan Melero-Martin
Dr. Juan Melero-Martin is an Associate Professor and the Endowed Chair in Cardiac Surgery at Boston Children's Hospital. His lab uses bioengineering principles to understand how vascular networks are formed and the mechanisms by which the vasculature modulates the engraftment and activity of various human stem cells.
Ep. 306: “Vertebrate Development” Featuring Dr. Carole LaBonne
Dr. Carole LaBonne is the Erastus Otis Haven Professor of Molecular Biosciences at Northwestern University. Her lab studies the genesis of neural crest stem cells at the level of the signaling pathways and transcription factors that comprise the neural crest gene regulatory network. They also study how these mechanisms contribute to exit from pluripotency and the subsequent lineage restriction of
Ep. 305: “Glial Cell Fate” Featuring Dr. Paul Tesar
Dr. Paul Tesar is the Director of the Institute for Glial Sciences and the Dr. Donald and Ruth Weber Goodman Professor of Innovative Therapeutics at Case Western Reserve University. His lab uses PSCs to model neurological development and disease with a specific focus on oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. He talks about his work on oligodendrocyte maturation, advancing research into the commercial an
Ep. 304: “Gene Regulation” Featuring Dr. Lars Velten
Dr. Lars Velten is a Group Leader at the Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona. He talks about his research on cell-state-specific enhancers in hematopoiesis and lineage tracing techniques to study blood aging. He also discusses combining generative AI with wet lab techniques and the advantages of risk-taking in basic research.
Ep. 303: “Organoid Models of Cancer” Featuring Dr. Alice Soragni
Dr. Alice Soragni is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. She talks about her work on patient-derived organoids and how they can be adapted for drug screening. She also discusses how she transitioned from structural biology to research on protein aggregation and rare diseases, and the current social media landscape for scientists.
Ep. 302: “Kidney Organoids” Featuring Dr. Zhongwei Li
Dr. Zhongwei Li is an Associate Professor at the University of Southern California. His lab focuses on kidney organogenesis with translational applications of kidney regeneration and disease modeling. He talks about his work on PSC-derived nephron progenitors and drug discovery applications for polycystic kidney disease.
Ep. 301: “Cell Fate Decisions in Cancer” Featuring Dr. Mark Hatley
Dr. Mark Hatley is an Associate Faculty Member and Director of the Division of Molecular Oncology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. His research focuses on the developmental origins and genetic mechanisms of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma. He talks about his work on pediatric oncology and the mechanisms that differentiate normal development from cancer. He also discusses the role of PAX3-FOXO1
Ep. 300: “Autologous Cell Therapy” Featuring Dr. Jeanne Loring
Dr. Jeanne Loring is a Co-Founder of Aspen Neuroscience and Professor Emeritus at Scripps Research. She talks about generating gametes from the functionally extinct northern white rhinoceros, Aspen's early days and its recent clinical trial results for Parkinson's cell therapy, and sending her own stem cells into space. She also discusses the need for genetic variation in iPSC lines.
Ep. 299: “Spinal Cord Development” Featuring Dr. James Briscoe
Dr. James Briscoe is a Group Leader at the Francis Crick Institute and Editor-In-Chief of Development. His lab uses an interdisciplinary approach, including mice, chicks, and other models, to study developmental dynamics. He discusses his lab's work on human trunk formation and his role as an Editor-In-Chief.
Ep. 298: “ISSCR 2025: On the Ground”
In June 2025, we attended ISSCR 2025, the annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, in Hong Kong. We spoke with delegates about their research, their impressions of the meeting, and the most memorable research presented. They also discussed their experiences exploring Hong Kong.
Ep. 297: “Live at ISSCR 2025: Advancing Regenerative Medicine with CiPSCs” Featuring Drs. Hongkui Deng and Candice Liew
Dr. Hongkui Deng is the Director of the Institute of Stem Cell Research at Peking University and Dr. Candice Liew is a Senior Scientist at Reprogenix Bioscience. In this special episode recorded in front of a live audience at ISSCR 2025 in Hong Kong, they discuss their groundbreaking study transplanting CiPSC-derived islets into a patient with type 1 diabetes. They talk about their approach to che
ISSCR 2025: Day 4
In June 2025, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual meeting in Hong Kong, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the final of four episodes from the meeting. Sessions focused on cell therapy for spinal cord injury, immunocompatible pig organs, and community engagement.
ISSCR 2025: Day 3
In June 2025, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual meeting in Hong Kong, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the third of four episodes, where Daylon and Arun discuss research on cell therapy for inflammatory bowel disease and hearing loss. They also talk about Dr. Jacob Hanna's work on ex utero e
ISSCR 2025: Day 2
In June 2025, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual meeting in Hong Kong, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the second of four episodes, where Daylon and Arun cover talks on animal models of regeneration and the public perception of in vitro gametogenesis. They also discuss work on CiPSCs for Typ
ISSCR 2025: Day 1
In June 2025, Daylon and Arun attended the International Society for Stem Cell Research’s (ISSCR) annual meeting in Hong Kong, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the first of four episodes, where Daylon and Arun discuss updates from clinical trials for ALS, congenital heart disease, and Parkinson's disease. They also talk about the Presidential Plen
Ep. 296: “Cardiovascular Development” Featuring Dr. Maneesha Inamdar
Dr. Maneesha Inamdar is the Director of the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine and Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research. Her lab uses comparative models, including mice, Drosophila, stem cell lines, and gastruloids, to study developmental biology. She talks about using embryo models to investigate teratogenicity, prioritizing ethnically diver
Ep. 295: “Roadmap for Cell Therapy Development” Featuring Drs. Jacqueline Barry, Kapil Bharti, and Jack Mosher
Dr. Jacqueline Barry is the Chief Clinical Officer at Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, Dr. Kapil Bharti is a Senior Investigator at the National Eye Institute at the National Institutes of Health, and Dr. Jack Mosher is the Scientific Director at the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR). They discuss their work on the ISSCR's Best Practices for the Development of Pluripotent Stem Ce
Ep. 294: “HSC Development and Regulation” Featuring Dr. Margaret Goodell
Dr. Margaret "Peggy" Goodell is the Vivian L. Smith Chair in Regenerative Medicine and Director of the Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center at Baylor College of Medicine. Her research focuses on HSC regulation and aging. She talks about her discovery of a side population of HSCs, as well as her work on DNMT3A mutation and clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential. Finally, she discusse
Ep. 293: “Cell Atlases” Featuring Dr. Sarah Teichmann
Drs. Sarah Teichmann is a Member of the Department of Medicine and Professor of Stem Cell Medicine at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. She talks about the plasticity of different cell types and developing whole-organ cell atlases for organs such as the thymus. She also discusses Human Cell Atlas project and overcoming skepticism in its early days. Finally, she talks about integrating computatio
Ep. 292: “Biomedical Ethics” Featuring Prof. Hank Greely
Professor Hank Greely is the Deane F. and Kate Edelman Johnson Professor of Law and Professor, by courtesy, of Genetics at Stanford University. He is also the Director of the Stanford Center for Law and the Biosciences. He talks about his career path into bioethics and ethical considerations for organoids, bodyoids, and embryo models. He also discusses the potential future of reproduction, includi
Ep. 291: “Functional Precision Medicine” Featuring Dr. Scott Younger
Dr. Scott Younger is the Director of Disease Gene Engineering within the Genomic Medicine Center at Children's Mercy Hospital. His research focuses on producing patient-derived cellular models to develop functional precision medicine. He talks about using personalized antisense oligonucleotides to reverse disease phenotypes in organoid models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. He also discusses his l
Ep. 290: “ISSCR 2025: Illuminating the Future” Featuring Drs. Valentina Greco, Kathryn Cheah, and Eugenia Piddini
Dr. Valentina Greco is the President of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), and Professor of Genetics and Co-Chair of the Status of Women in Medicine at Yale University. Dr. Kathryn Cheah is an ISSCR Program Committee Co-Chair and Emeritus Professor and Chair of Biochemistry at Hong Kong University. Dr. Eugenia Piddini is also an ISSCR Program Committee Co-Chair and Professor
Ep. 289: “Heart-Forming Organoids” Featuring Dr. Robert Zweigerdt
Dr. Robert Zweigerdt is a Principal Investigator at Hannover Medical School, where his lab focuses on cardiac differentiation and the scalable culture of PSCs. He talks about regulating the lineage-specific differentiation of hPSCs and generating heart-forming organoids that mirror developmental cardiogenesis. He also discusses the importance of mentorship and the benefits of an international rese
Ep. 288: “Cerebellar Organoids” Featuring Dr. Giorgia Quadrato
Dr. Giorgia Quadrato is Assistant Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Southern California. Her research focuses on brain developmental and neural organoids. She talks about protocols for generating cerebellar organoids, including those with functional Purkinje cells. She also discusses a transcriptomic atlas of neural organoids and the stem cell research landscape
Ep. 287: “Blood Development” Featuring Drs. Andrew Elefanty and Elizabeth Ng
Drs. Andrew Elefanty and Elizabeth Ng are Senior Principal Investigator and Principal Investigator, respectively, at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute. In the Blood Development group, they aim to develop innovative cellular therapies for blood and cartilage-related diseases. They talk about their recent study deriving and transplanting HSCs, their work on reporter lines, and their collabo
Ep. 286: “Neural Lineage Identity” Featuring Dr. Marius Wernig
Dr. Marius Wernig is a Professor of Pathology and a Co-Director of the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at Stanford University, where his research interests include direct reprogramming and neurological disease modeling. He talks about his early work reprogramming neuronal cells from fibroblasts, adopting iPSCs, and growing his lab. He also discusses his recent research on
Ep. 285: “Funding the Future” Featuring Dr. Jonathan Thomas
Guest:
Dr. Jonathan Thomas "JT" is the President and CEO of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), an organization that provides funding for stem cell research with the purpose of accelerating treatments for patients in need. He talks about working to ensure diversity in clinical trials and developing treatments that are affordable and accessible to patients. He also discusses
Ep. 284: “Organ Chip Engineering” Featuring Dr. Milica Radisic
Dr. Milica Radisic is a Professor and Canada Research Chair at the University of Toronto. Her lab uses organ-on-a-chip engineering to mimic physiology of the heart, kidney, and vasculature for the purpose of modeling human disease and discovering more effective drugs. In this episode, she talks about the challenges of studying the heart and strategies to mature cardiomyocytes. She also discusses u
Ep. 283: “Molecular Hematopoiesis” Featuring Dr. Cynthia Dunbar
Dr. Cynthia "Cindy" Dunbar is National Institutes of Health (NIH) Distinguished Investigator and Chief of the Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the NIH. She talks about using macaques to study hematopoiesis and aging, and the challenges and considerations for using these models. She also discusses her collaborative study transplanting iPSC-d
Ep. 282: “Whole-Body Regeneration” Featuring Dr. Mansi Srivastava
Dr. Mansi Srivastava is Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and Curator of Invertebrate Zoology at the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology. Her lab uses distantly related species to study evolution and regeneration. She talks about establishing Hofstenia miamia, or the three-banded panther worm, as a model system. She also discusses her lab's work on adult stem
Ep. 281: “Fertility Treatments” Featuring Drs. Dina Radenkovic and Bruna Paulsen
Drs. Dina Radenkovic and Bruna Paulsen are Co-Founder & CEO and VP of Manufacturing and Therapeutic development at Gameto, a biotech company developing treatment solutions to improve women's reproductive health. Their lead platform, Fertilo, uses ovarian support cells to mature oocytes outside of the body with the goal of making IVF and egg freezing shorter, safer, and more effective.
Ep. 280: “Liver Regeneration” Featuring Dr. Meritxell Huch
Dr. Meritxell Huch is a Scientific Director at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics and an Honorary Professor at the Technical University of Dresden. Her research focuses on liver and pancreas organoid models. She discusses a protocol for liver mesenchyme and ductal cell organoid co-culture and generating bipotent stem cells from the liver. She also tells her story of m
Ep. 279: “Direct Reprogramming” Featuring Dr. Samantha Morris
Dr. Samantha Morris is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Associate Professor of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School. She talks about dissecting and manipulating the genetic pathways that regulate cell identity. She discusses tools to measure cell fate transitions and incorporating in silico and in vitro experiments.
Ep. 278: “Stembryo Engineering” Featuring Dr. Alfonso Martinez Arias
Dr. Alfonso Martinez Arias is the CREA Research Professor in the Department of Systems Bioengineering of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. He talks about his path to developmental biology research and developing gastruloids to model human development. He also discusses standards for embryo models and his recent research on hematopoiesis.
Ep. 277: “Lung Development” Featuring Dr. Behzad Yeganeh
Dr. Behzad Yeganeh is an Associate Scientist at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute and the University of Ottawa. His work focuses on lung development and injury. He talks about neonatal lung diseases and the mechanisms that regulate autophagy and apoptosis.
Ep. 276: “Musculoskeletal Disorders” Featuring Dr. Dmitriy Sheyn
Dr. Dmitriy Sheyn is an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopedics and Regenerative Medicine Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. His lab focuses on the development of stem cell therapies for multiple musculoskeletal disorders caused by acute injuries and aging. He talks about ways to model disc degeneration and tendon injuries. He also discuses his lab's work on tendon differentiat
Ep. 275: “Liver Organogenesis” Featuring Dr. Ludovic Vallier
Dr. Ludovic Vallier is the W3 Einstein Strategic Professor for Stem Cells in Regenerative Therapies at the Berlin Institute of Health and a Max Planck Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics. His lab uses stem cells to model embryonic development in vitro and to produce liver cells with an interest for cell therapy. He talks about modeling non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hi
Ep. 274: “Brain Organoids” Featuring Dr. Ziyuan Guo
Dr. Ziyuan Guo is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Center for Stem Cell & Organoid Medicine at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. He talks about in vivo reprogramming and cell and gene therapy in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. He also discusses assembloids to model the blood-brain barrier and strategies for organoid vascularization.
Ep. 273: “Hematopoiesis and Cancer” Featuring Dr. Irving Weissman
Dr. Irving Weissman is the Virginia and Daniel Ludwig Professor of Clinical Cancer Research and Professor of Pathology and Developmental Biology at Stanford University. Dr. Weissman was the first scientist to identify and isolate mammalian blood-forming stem cells in mice, and his work has contributed to the understanding of how a single hematopoietic stem cell can give rise to specialized blood c
Ep. 272: “Live at ISSCR 2024: Stem Cell Research in Space” Featuring Drs. Davide Marotta and Catriona Jamieson
Dr. Davide Marotta is the Program Director for In-Space Biomanufacturing at the International Space Station National Laboratory. Dr. Catriona Jamieson is the Director of the Sanford Stem Cell Institute at the University of California, San Diego. In this special episode recorded in front of a live audience at ISSCR 2024 in Hamburg, Germany, they talk about the opportunities and challenges of worki
Ep. 271: “Skin Regeneration” Featuring Dr. Valentina Greco
Dr. Valentina Greco is the Carolyn Walch Slayman Professor of Genetics and Co-Chair of the Committee on the Status of Women in Medicine at Yale University. Her research focuses on tissue homeostasis in the face of continuous cellular turnover, frequent injuries, and spontaneous mutations. She talks about her research on skin and hair follicle stem cells, the role of imaging techniques, and bridgin
Ep. 270: “Microvascular Regeneration” Featuring Dr. Sara Vasconcelos
Dr. Sara Vasconcelos is a Senior Scientist and the John Kitson McIvor Endowed Chair in Diabetes Research at University Health Network. She is also an Associate Professor at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. Her lab studies microvascular regeneration in cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, and are working to develop personalized patient-derived organ-chip models
Ep. 269: “iPSC Technology” Featuring Dr. Sebastian Diecke
Dr. Sebastian Diecke is a Group Leader and Stem Cell Core Director at the Max Delbrück Center, where his research focuses on iPSCs and organoid models. He talks about the early days of iPSC research, developing organoids from endangered rhinoceros, and modeling Huntington's and other diseases.
Ep. 268: “Tissue Formation” Featuring Dr. Shukry Habib
Dr. Shukry Habib is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Université de Lausanne. His lab works at the intersection of stem cell biology, biophysics, and tissue engineering to investigate how tissues form. He talks about developing a transplantable bandage for bone repair and the role of Wnt signaling and cytonemes in development.
Ep. 267: “Embryo Morphogenesis” Featuring Dr. Shankar Srinivas
Dr. Shankar Srinivas is a Professor of Developmental Biology in the Department of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics based in the Institute for Developmental and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Oxford. He is also a Zeitlyn Fellow and Tutor in Medicine at Jesus College. Using mouse and human embryos as model systems, his group looks at the control of patterning and morphogenesis during the
Ep. 266: “From Stem Cells to Cortical Circuits” Featuring Dr. Pierre Vanderhaeghen
Dr. Pierre Vanderhaeghen is a Professor and Principal Investigator at VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research. His lab studies the mechanisms of cortical development and brain evolution. He talks about species-specific neuronal development, human neuron excitability, and playing in a rock cover band!
Ep. 265: “RNA Glycosylation” Featuring Dr. Ryan Flynn
Dr. Ryan Flynn is a Principal Investigator at Boston Children's Hospital and an Assistant Professor in the Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department at Harvard University. His lab explores the interface between RNA and glycans. He talks about the discovery of glycoRNA and the chemistry of the RNA-glycan connection. He also discusses the effects of glycans on stem cell function and deciding bet
Ep. 264: “Planarian Regeneration” Featuring Dr. Blair Benham-Pyle
Dr. Blair Benham-Pyle is an Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine. She talks about how multipotent cells in Schmidtea mediterranea enable whole-body regeneration. She also discusses the effects of the mechanical environment on stem cell fate.
Ep. 263: “ISSCR 2024: The Global Stem Cell Event” Featuring Drs. Amander Clark, Agnete Kirkeby, and Malin Parmar
Dr. Amander Clark is the President of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) and Founding Director of the Center for Reproductive Science, Health, and Education at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Agnete Kirkeby is a Program Chair of the ISSCR Annual Meeting, Associate Professor at Lund University and the University of Copenhagen, and Group Leader at the Novo Nordis
Ep. 262: “Glia in the Gut” Featuring Dr. Marissa Scavuzzo
Dr. Marissa Scavuzzo is an HHMI Hanna H. Gray Fellow at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Her research focuses on enteric glia regulation in the healthy and diseased gut. She talks about how glial cell subtypes affect intestinal motility and her experience receiving NYSCF and HHMI fellowships. She also talks about bringing science to underserved schools in Cleveland.
Ep. 261: “Building Neuromuscular Tissues” Featuring Dr. Ritu Raman
Dr. Ritu Raman is the d’Arbeloff Career Development Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT, where her lab uses robotics and tissue engineering to treat muscle loss. She talks about light-activated muscle grafts, magnetic microparticles to control forces exerted on cells, and strategies for science communication.
Ep. 260: “Synchronized Tissue Regeneration” Featuring Dr. Shiri Gur-Cohen
Dr. Shiri Gur-Cohen is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Regenerative Medicine at UC San Diego. Her lab studies epithelial stem cells throughout their lifetimes. She talks about lymphatics in the intestinal stem cell niche, 3D imaging techniques, and sharing her science with a wider audience.
Ep. 259: “Regenerative Neurobiology” Featuring Dr. Malin Parmar
Dr. Malin Parmar is a Professor at Lund University and a New York Stem Cell Foundation – Robertson Investigator. Her research aims to understand cell fate specification in the developing brain and in human neural progenitor cells using cell-based models of neuronal differentiation. She talks about using assembloids to model the dopaminergic system, direct reprogramming somatic cells into induced n
