iPSCs: Progress, Opportunities, and Challenges
Jan 26–29, 2026 | Kyoto International Conference Center, Kyoto, Japan
Scientific Organizers:
Shinya Yamanaka, Yanhong Shi, and Yasushi Kajii
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Jan 26–29, 2026 | Kyoto International Conference Center, Kyoto, Japan
Scientific Organizers: Shinya Yamanaka, Yanhong Shi, and Yasushi Kajii
Shinya Yamanaka
Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto Univ, Gladstone Institutes
Shinya Yamanaka, M.D., Ph.D., is the Director Emeritus of the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto University and a Senior Investigator at the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease. His pioneering work demonstrating that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent, namely induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, initiated the iPSC field and has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012. He has been involved in organizing the regularly held CiRA International Symposium and global and regional conferences of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR). To promote research and development efforts on iPSCs, he has spearheaded the CiRA Foundation, which manufactures, stocks, and distributes high-quality iPSCs to academic, non-profits, and industrial partners worldwide for their research and clinical development, and created T-CiRA, an academic-industrial collaboration project between CiRA and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Yanhong Shi, PhD
Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope
Yanhong Shi, Ph.D., is Professor and Chair of Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Director of Division of Stem Cell Biology Research at Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope National Medical Center, the Herbert Horvitz Endowed Professor in Neuroscience, and an elected fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). Her research focuses on human iPSC-based disease modeling, drug discovery, and cell therapy development for debilitating diseases. Dr. Shi’s extensive conference organizing experience includes as co-organizer of the 2018 Keystone Symposia on iPSCs.
Yasushi Kajii, PhD
Takeda Pharmaceutical Inc.
Yasushi Kajii, Ph.D., is the Head of R&D (Japan Region) of Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and the Program Officer for the T-CiRA Program. Dr. Kajii oversees drug development projects aiming to bring new iPSC-based cell therapy products to patients. He also serves as a Professor at Waseda University. Dr. Kajii is committed to bridging the gap between academia and industry to promote public-private partnerships. Together, this team is well-equipped to curate engaging content, foster a collaborative conference environment and to address logistical challenges that might emerge. Their expertise in the underlying biology and its biomedical implications ensures a well-rounded and insightful meeting that will leave a lasting impact on conferees.
Available Formats:
Supported by:
In Person
On Demand
***Meeting program subject to change.
Available Formats: = In Person = On DemandMerchandise Options
Registration Options
Monday, January 26, 2026
Fundraising
Booking Function
Registration
4:00–8:00 PM
Welcome Mixer
6:00–8:00 PM
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Breakfast
7:30–8:30 AM
Poster Setup
8:00–8:30 AM
Poster Viewing
8:15–5:00 PM
Welcome and Keynote Address
8:30–9:30 AM
Shinya Yamanaka, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto Univ, Gladstone Institutes
20 Years of iPSCs, Past, Present, and Future
20 Years of iPSCs, Past, Present, and Future
iPSC-based Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery
9:30–11:45 AM
Fred H. Gage, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
iPSC-based Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery for Neurological Disorders
iPSC-based Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery for Neurological Disorders
Lorenz Studer, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
An Epigenetic Barrier in Human iPSC-based Cortical Neurons
An Epigenetic Barrier in Human iPSC-based Cortical Neurons
Deepak Srivastava, Gladstone Institutes
iPSC-based Modeling of Heart Diseases
iPSC-based Modeling of Heart Diseases
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
Coffee Break
10:00–10:20 AM
Lunch
11:45–12:45 PM
Posters
12:30–2:30 PM
Symposia Spotlight 1: Late-breaking research presentations selected from abstract submissions
2:30–4:30 PM
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
3D Modeling using Organoids and Organs-on-a-Chip
5:00–7:00 PM
Guo-li Ming, University of Pennsylvania
Using iPSC-Derived Organoids to Study Neurodevelopment and Disorders
Using iPSC-Derived Organoids to Study Neurodevelopment and Disorders
Melissa Hector-Greene, Washington University in St. Louis
Modeling Dilated Cardiomyopathy using iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes and Engineered Heart Tissues
Modeling Dilated Cardiomyopathy using iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes and Engineered Heart Tissues
Christine L. Mummery, Leiden University Medical Center
Heart-on-a-Chip for Studying Cardiovascular Development and Diseases
Heart-on-a-Chip for Studying Cardiovascular Development and Diseases
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
On Own for Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Breakfast
7:30–8:30 AM
Poster Setup
8:00–8:30 AM
Poster Viewing
8:15–5:00 PM
Human iPSC-based Therapeutic Development I
8:30–11:00 AM
Yanhong Shi, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope
Developing Human iPSC-based Cell Therapies for Myelin Disorders
Developing Human iPSC-based Cell Therapies for Myelin Disorders
Mathew M. Blurton-Jones, University of California, Irvine
Therapeutic Potential of Human iPSC-derived Microglia
Therapeutic Potential of Human iPSC-derived Microglia
Marinna Madrid, Cellino Biotech
Creating an Industrial Revolution for Personalized Cell Therapies
Creating an Industrial Revolution for Personalized Cell Therapies
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
Coffee Break
9:30–9:50 AM
Unlocking iPSC Innovations: Towards Life-Transforming Drugs Through the Ten-Year T-CiRA Academia-Industry Collaboration Program
11:00–12:00 PM
Yasushi Kajii, Takeda Pharmaceutical Inc.
Open Innovation Setting of T-CiRA to Transform Academic Insights into Drug Seeds
Open Innovation Setting of T-CiRA to Transform Academic Insights into Drug Seeds
Yoshinori Yoshida, CiRA, Kyoto University
Cardiomyopathy Project: Drug Discovery for Cardiac Diseases Using an Innovative iPS Cell-Based Platform
Cardiomyopathy Project: Drug Discovery for Cardiac Diseases Using an Innovative iPS Cell-Based Platform
Lunch
12:00–1:00 PM
Posters
12:30–2:30 PM
Career Roundtable
3:00–4:30 PM
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Human iPSC-based Therapeutic Development II
5:00–7:00 PM
Hongjun Song, University of Pennsylvania
Studying Epitranscriptomic Regulation of Cortical Neurogenesis Using Human Organoid Models
Studying Epitranscriptomic Regulation of Cortical Neurogenesis Using Human Organoid Models
Mingxia Gu, UCLA
Therapeutic Development Using iPSC-derived Heart, Lung and Vasculature Organoids
Therapeutic Development Using iPSC-derived Heart, Lung and Vasculature Organoids
Hideyuki Okano, Keio University
Clinical Trial and Reverse Translational Research of iPSCs-based Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury
Clinical Trial and Reverse Translational Research of iPSCs-based Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
On Own for Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Breakfast
7:30–8:30 AM
Clinical Trials Testing PSC-derived Products
8:30–11:30 AM
Masayo Takahashi, Kobe Eye Center, VCCT Inc.
Lessons Learnt from Retinal Regeneration using Autologous and Allogeneic Human iPSC-derived Cells
Lessons Learnt from Retinal Regeneration using Autologous and Allogeneic Human iPSC-derived Cells
Keiichi Fukuda, Keio University School of Medicine & Heartseed Inc.
Cardiac Regeneration Using iPSCs
Cardiac Regeneration Using iPSCs
Jun Takahashi, CiRA, Kyoto University
iPSC-based Therapy for Parkinson's Disease
iPSC-based Therapy for Parkinson's Disease
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
Coffee Break
9:30–9:50 AM
Meet the Editors
11:30–12:30 PM
On Own for Lunch
12:30–2:30 PM
Symposia Spotlight 2: Late-breaking research presentations selected from abstract submissions
2:30–4:30 PM
Short Talks Chosen from Abstracts
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
AI and Machine Learning in iPSC Research and Applications
5:00–6:45 PM
Feng Guo, Indiana University
Brain Organoid Reservoir Computing for Artificial Intelligence
Brain Organoid Reservoir Computing for Artificial Intelligence
Casey Gifford, Stanford School of Medicine
Deep Learning Models Uncover Complex Motif Syntax Employed during Cardiac Organoid Differentiation
Deep Learning Models Uncover Complex Motif Syntax Employed during Cardiac Organoid Differentiation
Katriina Aalto-Setala, Tampere University
Artificial Intelligence for Cardiac Drug Study
Artificial Intelligence for Cardiac Drug Study
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
Meeting Wrap-Up: Outcomes and Future Directions (Organizers)
6:45–7:00 PM
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Friday, January 30, 2026
Departure
12:00–11:59 PM
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