Stem Cell Models in Embryology
Feb 17–20, 2026 | Asilomar Hotel and Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, CA, United States
Scientific Organizers:
Jun Wu, Jianping Fu, and Miki Ebisuya
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Feb 17–20, 2026 | Asilomar Hotel and Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, CA, United States
Scientific Organizers: Jun Wu, Jianping Fu, and Miki Ebisuya
Jun Wu, PhD
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Jianping Fu, PhD
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Miki Ebisuya, PhD
TU Dresden
Available Formats:
Supported by:
Livestream
In Person
On Demand
***Meeting program subject to change.
Available Formats: = Livestream = In Person = On DemandTuesday, February 17, 2026
Fundraising
Booking Function
Merchandise Options
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Registration and Welcome Mixer
4:00–6:00 PM
Fred Farr Forum
Dinner
6:00–7:00 PM
Crocker Dining Room
Human and Non-Human Primate Development using Embryos
7:00–9:00 PM
Fred Farr Forum
Sophie Petropoulos, Karolinska Institutet
Understanding Human Preimplantation Development
Understanding Human Preimplantation Development
Margherita Y Turco, Friedrich Miescher Institute
Spatial Multiomics Map of Trophoblast Development in Early Pregnancy
Spatial Multiomics Map of Trophoblast Development in Early Pregnancy
Hongmei Wang, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Advancing Trophoblast Organoid Models through a Comprehensive Investigation of Placental Development across Pregnancy
Advancing Trophoblast Organoid Models through a Comprehensive Investigation of Placental Development across Pregnancy
Mijo Simunovic †, Columbia University
Short Talk: Exploring the Evolutionary Divergence of Placenta Induction Across Mammals with Stem Cell Models
Short Talk: Exploring the Evolutionary Divergence of Placenta Induction Across Mammals with Stem Cell Models
Ikbal Choudhury, California Institute of Technology
Short Talk: Ex-Utero Human Embryo Implantation in a Functional Vascular Niche
Short Talk: Ex-Utero Human Embryo Implantation in a Functional Vascular Niche
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Breakfast
7:30–8:30 AM
Crocker Dining Room
Advancing Embryo Modeling
8:30–11:30 AM
Fred Farr Forum
Jacob H Hanna, Weizmann Institute of Science
Ex Utero Embryogenesis: from Naive Pluripotent Cells to Bona Fide Synthetic Embryo Models
Ex Utero Embryogenesis: from Naive Pluripotent Cells to Bona Fide Synthetic Embryo Models
Berna Sozen, Yale University
Self-Patterning of Human Stem Cells into Post-Implantation Lineages
Self-Patterning of Human Stem Cells into Post-Implantation Lineages
José Silva, Guangzhou National Laboratory
Creating High-Fidelity Mouse and Human Embryo Models with Reprogrammed ESCs
Creating High-Fidelity Mouse and Human Embryo Models with Reprogrammed ESCs
Jun Wu, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Developing Increasingly Complex Human Embryo-Like Structures using Stem Cells
Developing Increasingly Complex Human Embryo-Like Structures using Stem Cells
Hao Wu, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Short Talk: Transient YAP Hyperactivation Enables The Generation of Assembled Human and Chimeric Blastoids
Short Talk: Transient YAP Hyperactivation Enables The Generation of Assembled Human and Chimeric Blastoids
Matteo A. Molè †, Stanford University
Short Talk: Comparing Post-Implantation Development of Human Embryos and Stem-Cell Blastoids in a 3D Endometrial Scaffold Model
Short Talk: Comparing Post-Implantation Development of Human Embryos and Stem-Cell Blastoids in a 3D Endometrial Scaffold Model
Coffee Break
10:00–10:20 AM
Fred Farr Forum
Award Recipient Acknowledgement
10:20–10:25 AM
Fred Farr Forum
Poster Setup
11:30–1:00 PM
Kiln
Lunch
12:00–1:00 PM
Crocker Dining Room
Poster Viewing
1:00–9:00 PM
Kiln
Symposia Spotlight
1:30–3:30 PM
Fred Farr Forum
Laura Amaya †, Caltech
Embryonic Quality Control After Implantation with Lineage-Specific Elimination of Aneuploid Cells
Embryonic Quality Control After Implantation with Lineage-Specific Elimination of Aneuploid Cells
Amanda J Collier, University of California Los Angeles
Pluripotent State-Specific Mechanisms Orchestrate Human Blastoid Development
Pluripotent State-Specific Mechanisms Orchestrate Human Blastoid Development
Vinay Ayyappan, University of Pennsylvania
Clonal Division of Labor in Gastruloid Self-Organization
Clonal Division of Labor in Gastruloid Self-Organization
Emily Megill †, Temple University
Investigating YAP1-Dependent Vitamin A Metabolic Dysregulation During Early Cardiac Development Using Self-Organizing Human Cardiac Organoids
Investigating YAP1-Dependent Vitamin A Metabolic Dysregulation During Early Cardiac Development Using Self-Organizing Human Cardiac Organoids
Rowan M Karvas †, University of Colorado- Anschutz
Invasive Cytotrophoblast Development as Represented by a Human Integrated Stem-Cell-Based Embryo Model
Invasive Cytotrophoblast Development as Represented by a Human Integrated Stem-Cell-Based Embryo Model
Celia Mesias Casares †, Karolinska Institute
Dissection of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) Role in Shielding Naïve Pluripotency from Trophectoderm Differentiation
Dissection of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) Role in Shielding Naïve Pluripotency from Trophectoderm Differentiation
Siddharth S. Dey †, University of California, Santa Barbara
Long-term Germline Culture Identifies Factors Responsible for the Genome-wide Erasure of DNA Methylation in Human Primordial Germ Cells
Long-term Germline Culture Identifies Factors Responsible for the Genome-wide Erasure of DNA Methylation in Human Primordial Germ Cells
Tingfeng Guo †, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Decoding the Gene Regulation Underlying Human Naïve Pluripotency
Decoding the Gene Regulation Underlying Human Naïve Pluripotency
Coffee Available
3:30–4:00 PM
Fred Farr Forum
Combining Live Iaging, Stem Cell Models, and Clinical Metadata to Predict Implantation Success
4:00–6:00 PM
Fred Farr Forum
Jianping Fu, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Bioengineering Human Embryo and Organ Models
Bioengineering Human Embryo and Organ Models
Samira Musah, Duke University
Uncovering Patient-Specific Disease Mysteries with Stem Cells and Organ Chips
Uncovering Patient-Specific Disease Mysteries with Stem Cells and Organ Chips
Sharad Ramanathan, Harvard
Building Robust in vitro Systems to Study Early Human Development
Building Robust in vitro Systems to Study Early Human Development
Idse Heemskerk, University of Michigan
Short Talk: Decoding Combinatorial Cell Signaling in a Stem Cell Model for Human Gastrulation
Short Talk: Decoding Combinatorial Cell Signaling in a Stem Cell Model for Human Gastrulation
Nicole Horsley, Stanford University
Short Talk: Combining Live Imaging, Stem Cell Models, and Clinical Metadata to Predict Implantation Success
Short Talk: Combining Live Imaging, Stem Cell Models, and Clinical Metadata to Predict Implantation Success
Dinner
6:00–7:00 PM
Crocker Dining Room
Poster Session 1
7:00–9:00 PM
Kiln
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Breakfast
7:30–8:30 AM
Crocker Dining Room
Studying Developmental Mechanisms using Embryo Models
8:30–11:30 AM
Fred Farr Forum
Magdalena D. Zernicka-Goetz, University of Cambridge
Deciphering Early Mammalian Development Using Stem Cell-Based Models
Deciphering Early Mammalian Development Using Stem Cell-Based Models
Yasuhiro Takashima, Kyoto University CiRA
Naive Human PSCs Model Pre- to Post-Implantation Development
Naive Human PSCs Model Pre- to Post-Implantation Development
Aydan Bulut-Karslioglu, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics
Adjusting the Timing of Mammalian Development
Adjusting the Timing of Mammalian Development
Olivier Pourquie, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Life Without HOX
Life Without HOX
Liangwen Zhong, Yale School of Medicine
Short Talk: Mammalian Specific Histone Variant H2A.J Regulates Trophoblast Ribosome Biogenesis in Early Human Development
Short Talk: Mammalian Specific Histone Variant H2A.J Regulates Trophoblast Ribosome Biogenesis in Early Human Development
Shreyasi Mukherjee, Massachusetts General Hospital
Chromatin Remodeling By Polycomb Repressive Complexes Regulates The Spatiotemporal Emergence Of Mammalian Body Plan In Mouse Gastruloids
Chromatin Remodeling By Polycomb Repressive Complexes Regulates The Spatiotemporal Emergence Of Mammalian Body Plan In Mouse Gastruloids
Coffee Break
9:30–9:50 AM
Fred Farr Forum
Poster Setup
11:30–1:00 PM
Kiln
Lunch
12:00–1:00 PM
Crocker Dining Room
Poster Viewing
1:00–9:00 PM
Kiln
Panel Discussions (Ethics)
2:00–3:30 PM
Fred Farr Forum
Coffee Available
3:30–4:00 PM
Fred Farr Forum
Synthetic Biology for Embryo Modeling
4:00–6:00 PM
Fred Farr Forum
Miki Ebisuya, TU Dresden
Optogenetic Manipulation and Cross-Species Comparison of Stem Cell Models
Optogenetic Manipulation and Cross-Species Comparison of Stem Cell Models
Mustafa Hani Khammash, ETH Zürich
Control Theory and Optogenetic Manipulation of in vitro Models
Control Theory and Optogenetic Manipulation of in vitro Models
Jared Toettcher, Princeton University
Optogenetic Manipulation and Systems Biology
Optogenetic Manipulation and Systems Biology
Ali Shariati, University of California, Santa Cruz
Short Talk: CRISPR-Programming Human Embryogenesis
Short Talk: CRISPR-Programming Human Embryogenesis
Michelle Chan, Princeton University
Short Talk: Molecular Recording To Characterize Progenitor Cell Behaviors In Gastruloids
Short Talk: Molecular Recording To Characterize Progenitor Cell Behaviors In Gastruloids
Dinner
6:00–7:00 PM
Crocker Dining Room
Poster Session 2
7:00–9:00 PM
Kiln
Friday, February 20, 2026
Breakfast
7:30–8:30 AM
Crocker Dining Room
Progressive Embryo Modeling towards Organogenesis and Translation
8:30–11:30 AM
Fred Farr Forum
James Briscoe, The Francis Crick Institute
Building a Spinal Cord: The Embryonic Development of the Vertebrate Neural Tube
Building a Spinal Cord: The Embryonic Development of the Vertebrate Neural Tube
Nobuhiko Hamazaki, University of Washington - Hamazaki Lab
Modeling and Uncovering the Human Post-Implantation Embryonic Development
Modeling and Uncovering the Human Post-Implantation Embryonic Development
Mingxia Gu, UCLA
Engineering Vascularized Organoids to Decode Human Organogenesis
Engineering Vascularized Organoids to Decode Human Organogenesis
Joshua M. Brickman, University of Copenhagen
The Primitive Endoderm Supports Lineage Plasticity to Enable Regulative Development
The Primitive Endoderm Supports Lineage Plasticity to Enable Regulative Development
Rio Sugimura, HKU
Short Talk: Blood Originates In Hypoblasts During Embryonic Development
Short Talk: Blood Originates In Hypoblasts During Embryonic Development
Conchi Estaras, Temple University
Short Talk: YAP Regulates Body Axis Formation In A Human Model Of Gastrulation
Short Talk: YAP Regulates Body Axis Formation In A Human Model Of Gastrulation
Coffee Break
9:30–9:50 AM
Fred Farr Forum
Meeting Wrap-Up: Outcomes and Future Directions (Organizers)
11:30–11:45 AM
Fred Farr Forum
Lunch
12:00–1:00 PM
Crocker Dining Room
Departure
1:00–11:59 PM
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