National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia

Muscle tissue from aged mice seven days after injury. Left: Aged mice with normal NDRG1 levels show slower regeneration with smaller muscle fibers. Right: Aged mice in which NDRG1 was recently blocked show faster regeneration with larger fibers. Image credit: Jengmin Kang, Rando Lab

New in @science.org Muscle stem cells build resilience but lose regenerative power with age, according to UCLA researchers. In mice, stem cells in aged muscle accumulate the NDRG1 protein that slows their ability to repair tissue but helps the cells survive longer:
newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/cel...

Universal method could transform the future of bone transplantation Lund University. In brief: Overall, the study shows that it is possible to create safe, cell-free tissue structures that effectively help the body build new bone tissue. The results meet key requireme...

🦴🧫 Over 2M people/year need bone transplants. A new @pnas.org study by @cto-bourgine.bsky.social shows how a cell-free cartilage graft can safely guide bone repair without strong immune reactions in animal models - an off-the-shelf step toward human studies.

www.stemcellcenter.lu.se/article/univ...

The ISSCR invites researchers to the Modeling Human Development: Gene Networks, Organoids, and AI Tools webinar. Early-career scientists will present cutting-edge work integrating gene regulatory networks, organoid systems, & AI. Register today: https://ow.ly/ub2S50XTsyX

New study from King's College London: Generation and characterization of iPSC models from HIV-1-positive individuals with divergent clinical outcomes. Resource supports lentiviral vector transduction and replicating HIV-1 studies https://ow.ly/s81Z50Y1m16

ISSCR | Cell Press

Online now in Stem Cell Reports! Charting the translational pathway: ISSCR Best Practices for PSC-derived therapies. A comprehensive global framework guiding academia and industry through the translational pipeline and key decision points. https://ow.ly/orgU50Y1mle

ISSCR | Cell Press

ISSCR issues statement in response to new NIH policy on research using human fetal tissue.

"The abrupt ending of NIH support for fetal tissue research will undermine the development of new therapies for diseases that affect American families."

https://ow.ly/epfM50Y1MHn Sean J. Morrison

Hear directly from past attendees about what makes the ISSCR Annual Meeting so special! From cutting-edge scientific sessions and inspiring keynote talks to incredible networking opportunities, ISSCR 2026 brings together leaders across stem cell research. Learn more 👉 https://www.isscr2026.org/

Weekly reads: NIH fetal tissue research ban, hESCs likely next, retraction spike, FDA CGT flexibility - The Niche Biologist discusses recent news and research related to regenerative medicine including a fetal tissue research ban on NIH funding.

Weekly #regenerative reads: NIH fetal tissue research ban, hESCs likely next, retraction spike or just more awareness, more on "new" FDA CGT flexibility ipscell.com/2026/01/week... #stemcells

🔔 This is a reminder to submit your abstract for #ISSCR2026 by February 25th!

Join nearly 3,500 scientists, clinicians, and industry leaders for 4 days at the frontiers of stem cell science, regenerative medicine, and engineering biology.

🗓️ July 8-11
📍 Montréal

https://bit.ly/4pOzEzT

@isscr.org

Register for the new, free course from ISSCR & STEMCELL Technologies “Applying the ISSCR Standards for Research.” The course provides a comprehensive overview of the ISSCR Standards, and real-life examples of how to apply them in your research. Check it out 👉 https://bit.ly/43Slc1G

Prof. Fiona Doetsch has been awarded the 2026 Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine!
Her discoveries reveal how neural stem cells support lifelong brain plasticity and repair. 🧠
Read more: www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/news/detail/...

Stem cells can rebuild damaged brain circuits after stroke Human stem cells survived brain injury, rebuilt connections, and restored lost function in damaged brains.

'Stem cells can rebuild damaged brain circuits after stroke': www.earth.com/news/stem-ce...
Paper: www.cell.com/cell-stem-ce...

What are the big international stem cell research events for 2026? @isscr.org has a handy roundup of events, including:
MAR: Access & Affordability in Cell/Gene Therapies summit in LA
JUL: #ISSCR2026 in Montréal
OCT: celebrating 20 Years of iPSC in Kyoto
mailchi.mp/02f83aff9ee7...

We will be back on social media from Monday 12 January 2026. Wishing you all a safe festive season, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - from the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia.

Pure bred: New stem cell medium only has canine components Researchers create a stem cell medium for canine stem cells that doesn’t contain any human components

Researchers create a stem cell medium for canine stem cells that doesn’t contain any human components.
“This research brings the clinical application of regenerative medicine for intractable diseases commonly seen in dogs ... closer to reality”
www.asiaresearchnews.com/content/pure...

Space Balance and Stem Cell Research Wrap Up Week on Station - NASA The Expedition 74 crew wrapped up the week exploring how the body balances itself in space and growing stem cells to improve health. Meanwhile, ongoing cargo operations and lab maintenance rounded out...

Space Balance and Stem Cell Research Wrap Up Week on Station:
The Expedition 74 crew wrapped up the week exploring how the body balances itself in space and growing stem cells to improve health.
www.nasa.gov/blogs/spaces...

Unlocking More Matches for Stem Cell Transplants - InventUM A Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center study reveals patients can receive stem cell transplants from donors with genetic mismatches.

‘Unlocking More Matches for Stem Cell Transplants’ – study finds patients can safely receive stem cell transplants from unrelated donors who are mismatched at two or more HLA markers: news.med.miami.edu/unlocking-mo...
Paper: doi.org/10.1182/bloo...

Space travel affects haematopoietic stem cells - Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology Jamieson and colleagues report the effects of spaceflight on haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells isolated from astronauts.

‘Space travel affects haematopoietic stem cells’ – @nature.com review on the effects of spaceflight on haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells isolated from astronauts: doi.org/10.1038/s415...

UC San Diego Researchers Uncover the Earliest Stages of Human Placenta Formation A gene that turns on very early in embryonic development could be key to the formation of the placenta, which provides the developing fetus with all of the nutrients it needs to thrive during gestatio...

‘UC San Diego Researchers Uncover the Earliest Stages of Human Placenta Formation’ – using stem cells to overcome ethical and technical constraints of studying placental formation in humans’: today.ucsd.edu/story/uc-san...
Paper: doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
@ucsandiego.bsky.social

Scientists boost 'tiny batteries' within our cells in hopes of slowing effects of aging Scientists at Texas A&M have developed a method to recharge aging cells in hopes of helping people fight diseases and physical deterioration as they grow older.

‘Scientists boost tiny batteries within our cells in hopes of slowing effects of aging’ – US researchers rejuvenate old/damaged human cells by replacing their mitochondria: 13wham.com/news/nation-...
Paper: doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
See also @washingtonpost.com www.washingtonpost.com/science/2025...

The ISSCR and STEMCELL Technologies have launched Applying the ISSCR Standards for Research, a free, on-demand course designed to help scientists integrate the ISSCR Standards for Human Stem Cell Use in Research into their work. Learn more and take the course today👉 https://bit.ly/4aCuhzJ

ISSCR President Hideyuki Okano shares how the #ISSCR2026 Annual Meeting comes at a transformative time in the stem cell field, as therapies are approaching the clinic. Learn about the Presidential Symposium speakers and more: https://bit.ly/4aGimB5

Congratulations to Professor Jose Polo, our inaugural Metcalf Prize winner (2021), for securing funding under the Australian Research Council 2026 Discovery Project scheme @embl.org 👉 emblaustralia.org/grant-succes...
Here's why we supported him: stemcellfoundation.net.au/jose_polo_sh...

FDA approves first stem cell therapy to treat severe aplastic anemia - UPI.com The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the approval of the first hematopoietic stem cell transplant therapy to treat patients with rare but severe aplastic anemia.

‘FDA approves first stem cell therapy to treat severe aplastic anemia’ – United Press International reports on US Food and Drug Administration announcement: www.upi.com/Health_News/...

Thousands join stem cell donor roll but still no match for Rowan Rowan Tong-Law, 18, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia last year and has been searching for a full stem cell donor match.

‘Young people urged to join stem cell donor roll with full matches hard to come by’ – Great @abcnewsaustralia.bsky.social article and a reminder for young people aged 18 to 35 to join the stem cell donor registry, to help Rowan and others like him: www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...

Chinese scientists develop promising stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s New biotech allows ‘seeds’ planted in the brain to differentiate into new nerve cells, reshaping its neural network.

‘Chinese scientists develop promising stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease’ – @scmpnews.bsky.social reports on ‘an ultra-efficient stem cell approach’ to the neurological disease involving a clinical trial by First Affiliated Hospital of USTC: scmp.com/news/china/s...

‘The Year in Cell Biology: 2025’ – Journal of Cell Biology wraps up the year with 13 of the ‘most impactful papers’, including how sphingolipid metabolism regulates stem cell function: rupress.org/jcb/collecti...

The functional principles of eye evolution: Light-sensitive stem cells provide new insight A new study, led by the University of Vienna and the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven, shows how the eyes of adult marine bristleworms continue to grow throughout life—driven by a ring of neura...

‘The functional principles of eye evolution: Light-sensitive stem cells provide new insight’ – study reveals ‘a ring of neural stem cells’, responsive to light, drive eye growth throughout the life of marine bristleworms: phys.org/news/2025-12...
Paper: doi.org/10.1038/s414...
@univie.ac.at

‘Mini lung organoids made in bulk could help test personalised cancer treatments’ – Researchers in Germany find ‘a simple, automated way’ of making lung organoids: oncologynews.com.au/latest-news/...
Paper: doi.org/10.3389/fbio...
@unidue.bsky.social

👩‍🚀 What are the health effects of space on astronauts? Our Catriona Jamieson, MD, PhD, sheds light on the topic in a new @cp-cellstemcell.bsky.social article. Her work — the 1st comprehensive study of stem cell health in astronauts — provides answers NASA Twins couldn't: bit.ly/3KsuyLe