The Stem Cell Podcast

Guest: 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. (40:12) Featured Products and Resources: Share your feedback and enter to win a Bluetooth speaker! Take your human pluripotent stem cell cultures further with mTeSR™ Plus. The Stem Cell Science Round Up Chemically Induced Embryo Founder Cells: A small-molecule-only approach was used to induce mouse embryonic stem cells into embryo founder cells, which generated a mouse embryo model. (1:45) Transgene-Free Embryo Models: Scientists generated transgene-free stem cell-based embryo models solely from mouse naïve PSCs. (13:25) Hypoimmune CAR T Cells: Allogeneic hypoimmune CAR T cells do not induce an immune response in patients. (21:15) Reconstructing PSC-Islets: PSC-islets comprising all five endocrine subtypes were reconstructed and transplanted into mice. (32:03) Image courtesy of Dr. Zhongwei Li Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: 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 and DICER1 in tumorigenesis. (37:50) Featured Products and Resources: Share your feedback and enter to win a Bluetooth speaker! Get a free wallchart that explains the functions, properties, and identifying markers of MSCs. The Stem Cell Science Round Up Transplanting Allogeneic Beta Cells – Researchers transplanted genetically modified allogeneic donor islet cells into a man with long-standing type 1 diabetes. (1:37) Pig Liver Xenotransplantation – RNA sequencing highlights how innate immune cells may affect thrombotic and immune pathways after liver xenotransplantation. (12:03) Chemical Reprogramming – A new method generates hCiPS cells from both cord blood and adult peripheral blood cells. (21:10) T Cell Development – Soluble Notch agonists support T cell development in suspension bioreactor culture. (27:30) Image courtesy of Dr. Mark Hatley Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Dr. Jeanne Loring, Co-founder of Aspen Neuroscience and Professor Emeritus at Scripps Research, shares fascinating insights from her work on autologous cell therapies. She discusses innovative methods for generating gametes from the endangered northern white rhinoceros and the recent successes in Parkinson's disease trials. Loring unveils her project sending stem cells into space, exploring microgravity's effects on neuroscience. She emphasizes the vital need for genetic diversity in iPSC lines and the ethical considerations in stem cell research.

Dr. James Briscoe, a Group Leader at the Francis Crick Institute and Editor-In-Chief of Development, dives into spinal cord development. He shares insights on the molecular mechanisms that fuel embryonic research, highlighting the role of neural organoids in simulating human trunk formation. The conversation also touches on advances in RNA sequencing and the development of vascular organoids for studying diseases. Briscoe emphasizes the importance of collaborative research and the evolving landscape of scientific publishing.

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. Featured Products and Resources: Wallchart: Reporting Practices for Publishing Results with hPSCs Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Dr. Hongkui Deng, Director of the Institute of Stem Cell Research at Peking University, and Dr. Candice Liew, Senior Scientist at Reprogenix Bioscience, share their groundbreaking work on chemically induced pluripotent stem cells (CiPSCs). They discuss a revolutionary patient trial using CiPSC-derived islets for type 1 diabetes and the challenges of immune tolerance. The pair also delve into advancements in chemical reprogramming and their potential to transform regenerative medicine, including innovative strategies for age reversal and enhanced disease treatment.

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. Featured Products and Resources: Are you taking a cell therapy to clinic? Work with a dedicated team that understands the path from bench to bedside. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

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 embryo culture, Dr. Paola Arlotta’s research on long-term brain organoids, and Di Pan’s insights into sponge regeneration. Featured Products and Resources: Get access to free, on-demand training courses to help you master techniques in hPSC, hematopoietic, organoid, neural, and other specialized cell types. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

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 Type 1 diabetes therapy and growing pig-human chimeric embryos. Featured Products and Resources: Explore the possibilities for reproducible, high-quality hPSC differentiation with easy-to-use serum-free kits. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

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 Plenary session, chaired by Dr. Valentina Greco. Featured Products and Resources: Start your research confidently with a reliable source of human iPSC products. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe