This conference marks the 20th anniversary of breakthrough discoveries in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, which has advanced embryology, disease modeling platforms, drug discovery efforts, and the development of cell-based therapies for various human diseases. Looking towards the future, the combination of iPSC technology with gene editing, three-dimensional organoids, organs-on-a-chip, and emerging technologies such as AI and machine learning promises to yield even more powerful and transformative applications in biomedical research. 

This meeting will celebrate advances in iPSC research and explore those yet to come, reflecting on lessons learned and identifying challenges and opportunities for moving forward. It will gather leading scientists from academia and industry to discuss basic knowledge and medical applications of iPSCs, which are now entering or progressing through clinical trials, to drive novel discoveries, create new tools, and explore their therapeutic potential. The program will highlight pioneering technologies and their applications, including iPSC-based disease modeling and drug discovery, iPSC-based cell therapy development using autologous and universal donors, clinical trials of iPSC-derived products, 3D modeling using organoids or organs-on-a-chip, as well as discussions of AI, machine learning, and bioethics as they relate to these advances. 

This conference will provide a unique opportunity for researchers, clinicians, industrial experts, and venture capitalists to interact and forge collaborative partnerships. Attendees will also have a rare opportunity to hear from Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, a renowned stem cell researcher, Nobel Laureate, and co-organizer of this meeting, who will give the Keynote Address. Ultimately, this meeting aims to foster the sharing of knowledge across disciplines and the integration of new technologies with foundational iPSC platforms to transform the field and drive the development of new cellular platforms and therapeutic products to improve clinical medicine.