The Stem Cell Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 324: “From Stem Cells to Living Tissues” Featuring Drs. Yifei Miao and Anca Pasca Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

This quarterly special episode, created in partnership with the ISSCR Early Career Advisory Committee, features two rising leaders in stem cell research. Dr. Yifei (Simon) Miao, a Professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, discusses engineering vascularized organoids and integrating bioengineering approaches to build more physiologically relevant human tissues. Dr. Anca Pașca, an Assistant Professor at Stanford Medicine, explores how stem cell-derived brain organoids and assembloids are advancing our understanding of neonatal brain injury and neurodevelopmental disorders, with the goal of developing new therapies for vulnerable infants. If you'd like to recommend yourself or a colleague for a future episode, we'd love to hear from you. Submit a nomination here.

Ep. 323: “Building the Blastema” Featuring Dr. Mekayla Storer Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

Dr. Mekayla Storer is an Associate Professor at the University of Cambridge and a Principal Investigator at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. She discusses how mammalian digit tips regenerate after injury, focusing on the formation of the blastema and the cellular and molecular mechanisms that distinguish regeneration from scarring. She highlights the role of the extracellular matrix, tissue mechanics, and regenerative microenvironments in directing tissue repair, and explores how insights from digit tip regeneration may inform strategies to promote regeneration in other organs.

Ep. 322: “Healing Hearts with Macrophages” Featuring Dr. Filipa Simões Jun 09, 2026

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Dr. Filipa Simões is a Group Leader at the University of Oxford and Co-Director of the Oxford Organoid Hub. She discusses how macrophages shape heart development, repair, and regeneration, and how cellular crosstalk within the cardiac niche influences tissue outcomes after injury. Using zebrafish models, stem cell–derived cardiac organoids, and spatial genomics approaches, she explores the molecular signals that govern macrophage identity and function, with the goal of uncovering new strategies to promote cardiac regeneration and limit fibrosis.

Ep. 321: “Decoding Blood Stem Cells” Featuring Dr. Vijay Sankaran May 26, 2026

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Dr. Vijay Sankaran is a Professor at Harvard Medical School and Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He discusses how his lab uses human genetics and stem cell biology to uncover mechanisms regulating hematopoiesis and blood disease, including the discovery of key regulators such as BCL11A and HOTSCRAMBL. He also explores how advances in genome editing, stem cell engineering, and single-cell genomics are shaping new therapies for disorders such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and leukemia, while highlighting the challenges of translating these breakthroughs into scalable patient treatments.

Ep. 320: “Cancer Under Pressure” Featuring Dr. Meenal Datta May 12, 2026

Show notes

Dr. Minal Datta is an Associate Professor at the University of Notre Dame and leader of the Tumor Immune Microenvironment Mechanics (TIME) Lab. She discusses how mechanical forces within tumors shape cancer progression and immune responses, with a focus on glioblastoma. She highlights how immunomechanics and mechanobiology influence tumor growth, treatment resistance, and immune cell function, and explores how space-based research and microgravity models can uncover new insights and therapeutic strategies for cancer.

Ep. 319: “Building Better iPSCs” Featuring Dr. Andrew Gaffney Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

Dr. Andrew Gaffney is Vice President, iPSC Platform at STEMCELL Technologies. In this episode, he discusses how his team is advancing pluripotent stem cell applications through high-quality iPSC line development, gene editing, organoid production, and GMP manufacturing for translational and clinical use. He also highlights key challenges in the field, including reproducibility, standardization, genetic diversity, and freedom-to-operate considerations, and explains how these factors impact the path from basic research to commercialization.

Ep. 318: “Modeling Reproduction and Endocrinology” Featuring Dr. Kotaro Sasaki Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Dr. Kotaro Sasaki is an Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He discusses how his lab uses human pluripotent stem cells to model germ cell development and endocrine organs such as the testis and adrenal gland. He highlights progress toward in vitro gametogenesis, including generating spermatogonial-like cells and reconstructing testicular environments, as well as recent advances in building adrenal organoids with zonal architecture. He also explores the scientific, translational, and ethical challenges of creating functional human gametes, and emphasizes the importance of developmental biology in guiding stem cell-based approaches.

Ep. 317: “Engineering the Human Heart” Featuring Dr. Aitor Aguirre Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

Dr. Aitor Aguirre is an Associate Professor at Michigan State University and Director of the Stem Cell Core. In this episode, he discusses how his lab uses pluripotent stem cells and cardiac organoids to model human heart development and disease. He highlights the role of self-organization and bioengineering in building complex heart models, including assembloids with immune and neural components, and their applications in studying conditions like atrial fibrillation. He also shares perspectives on open science, collaboration, and training the next generation of scientists.

Ep. 316: “Primate Embryogenesis” Featuring Dr. Thorsten Boroviak Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

Dr. Thorsten Boroviak is an Assistant Professor at the University of Cambridge and a member of the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. He discusses how stem cell–based embryo models are helping researchers study early human and primate development, including implantation and gastrulation. He also talks about using primate systems such as marmoset to understand human development, the role of biomechanics and extraembryonic tissues in embryogenesis, and the ethical considerations surrounding embryo models and emerging technologies like in vitro gametogenesis.

Ep. 315: “Advanced Stem Cell-Based Models” Featuring Drs. Shuibing Chen and Hans Clevers Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

Drs. Shuibing Chen and Hans Clevers, members of the Steering Committee for the ISSCR Consortium on Advanced Stem Cell-Based Models in Drug Discovery and Development, explore how stem cell–derived organoids and other new approach methodologies (NAMs) can complement or replace animal models in preclinical research. The discussion highlights the need for standardization, regulatory alignment, and industry collaboration to improve reproducibility, accelerate drug development, and ultimately create more human-relevant and effective therapies.

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