The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) is delighted to announce the results of its 2026 election for leadership positions, including vice president and members of the Board of Directors.

‍The election of this leadership cohort reflects ISSCR’s continued evolution as a global platform advancing stem cell science from discovery through clinical impact. With expertise spanning translational science, emerging technologies, ethics, and global policy, the Society is well positioned to guide the responsible and effective advancement of the field at a pivotal moment.

‍Looking ahead, these newly elected leaders will play a critical role guiding the Society’s global mission to advance excellence in stem cell science and its applications to human health. All terms will begin at the conclusion of the ISSCR Annual Meeting, taking place 8 -11 July 2026 in Montréal, Canada.

‍Malin Parmar, Ph.D., Lund University, Sweden, has been elected vice president. A globally recognized leader in cellular neuroscience, Dr. Parmar’s work bridges fundamental stem cell biology and clinical translation, with a particular focus on developing regenerative therapies for Parkinson’s disease. She brings a strong commitment to advancing scientific excellence, promoting responsible and evidence-based clinical translation, and strengthening global collaboration across the stem cell community. Her leadership comes at a pivotal time for the field, as emerging technologies and accelerating clinical progress create new opportunities and responsibilities for the global research community.
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The ISSCR elected three new members to the Board of Directors:

Jianping Fu, Ph.D., University of Michigan, USA, is a leader at the intersection of engineering, biology, and medicine. Dr. Fu’s research focuses on bioengineering approaches for advanced tissue engineering and on stem cell-based model systems. He also develops and applies next-generation technologies, including mechanobiology, synthetic biology and data-driven methods, to support the ISSCR’s goals of accelerating discovery and translation and strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration.

Stefan Irion, M.D., BlueRock Therapeutics, USA, is Chief Scientific Officer and a physician-scientist deeply engaged in translational medicine. He brings a “patient-first” perspective to advancing cell therapies. Dr. Irion’s leadership will be instrumental in addressing key challenges facing the field, including scaling manufacturing, improving affordability, and aligning global regulatory frameworks to ensure that innovative therapies can reach patients worldwide.

Kazuto Kato, Ph.D., University of Osaka, Japan, is an internationally respected expert in biomedical ethics and public policy. His work focuses on the ethical, legal, and social implications of rapidly advancing technologies, including stem cell-based embryo models, genomics, and artificial intelligence. Dr. Kato’s perspective will help ensure that scientific progress is matched by thoughtful ethical oversight and sustained public trust, while also addressing the importance of global equity in research and clinical translation.

The ISSCR is equally pleased to announce the reappointment of Shuibing Chen, Ph.D., of Weill Cornell Medicine, USA, to the Board of Directors. Dr. Chen, a leader in translational science and innovation, will continue to contribute her expertise to the Society’s strategic direction and global initiatives, ensuring continuity and sustained impact.

‍The ISSCR Board of Directors has a central role in shaping the Society’s strategic direction, reinforcing its position as the global authority in stem cell science, and ensuring the responsible translation of research into safe and effective therapies.

‍About ISSCR
With nearly 5,000 members from more than 80 countries, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (@ISSCR) is the preeminent global, cross-disciplinary, science-based organization dedicated to stem cell research and its translation to the clinic. The ISSCR mission is to promote excellence in stem cell science and applications to human health.