image: New leaders will join the ISSCR Board of Directors in the summer 2025.
Credit: ISSCR
The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) is pleased to announce the results of its 2025 election and to welcome new leaders to the ISSCR Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
Fiona Doetsch, Ph.D., Biozentrum, University of Basel, Switzerland, will serve as the new Vice President. Professor Doetsch is recognized for her groundbreaking research on identifying adult neural stem cells, pioneering widely used assays in the field, and elucidating the roles of adult neural stem cells in brain plasticity.
Lee Rubin, Ph.D., Harvard University Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, USA, will serve as Treasurer, bringing extensive expertise in iPSCs, neurodegenerative diseases, and biotech. His work has led to significant drug discoveries, and he has founded several biotech companies.
Megan Munsie, Ph.D., Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and University of Melbourne, Australia, will serve as Clerk. Dr. Munsie combines expertise in developmental biology with a focus on the ethical, legal, and societal implications of stem cell science. Her work has influenced global policy reforms and public education globally.
Each brings valuable leadership to the Society as the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine accelerates. The ISSCR continues to focus on fostering global scientific exchange, advocacy, education, and the development of guidelines that strengthen the field.
The ISSCR also welcomes three new members to its Board of Directors for a three-year term. “Lijian Hui, Ph.D., is a leading scientist in liver regeneration and cell therapy at the Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, who pioneered hepatocyte generation through reprogramming and developed a bioartificial liver device and the encapsulated liver organoid currently in clinical trials.”
Wei Xie, Ph.D., Tsinghua University, China, uses interdisciplinary approaches to study transcription regulation and epigenome reprogramming during early mammalian development. His groundbreaking work has earned multiple awards, including the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) International Research Scholar award.
Peter Zandstra, CM, Ph.D., is the founding director of the UBC School of Biomedical Engineering in Canada. His research integrates engineering, computational modeling, and stem cell biology to better understand cell fate control mechanisms. Dr. Zandstra has mentored more than 75 trainees and co-founded initiatives including CCRM and Notch Therapeutics.
In addition to the new officers and directors, the following current members of the ISSCR Board of Directors have been re-appointed to a second, three-year term: Kathy Niakan, Ph.D., University of Cambridge and Kenneth S. Zaret, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, USA.
All terms for the new leaders will begin on 1 July 2025.
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 clinical applications. The ISSCR’s mission is to promote excellence in stem cell science and its applications to human health.
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