ISCT and JSRM Launch Five-Year Strategic Partnership to Advance iPSC-Based Therapies Globally
Key Insights
The International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (search) (ISCT (search)) and Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine (search) (JSRM (search)) announced a landmark five-year strategic collaboration to advance iPSC (search)-based therapies worldwide.
The partnership aims to accelerate harmonization across regulation, medicine, and industry sectors while addressing key bottlenecks in clinical translation and manufacturing.
The collaboration will launch at the 25th JSRM (search) Annual Meeting in Kobe in 2026, with annual events alternating between JSRM and ISCT (search) meetings.
The International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (search) (ISCT (search)) and the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine (search) (JSRM (search)) have announced a groundbreaking five-year strategic partnership to advance induced pluripotent stem cell (search) (iPSC (search))-based therapies on a global scale. The collaboration, announced on March 3, 2026, represents what the organizations describe as "a landmark in the history of international regenerative medicine collaboration."
Strategic Partnership Framework
The ISCT (search)-JSRM (search) Joint Strategic Collaboration on Clinical iPSCs builds on ISCT's three-decade legacy of translating cell and gene therapy research into safe, effective, and accessible therapies worldwide, combined with JSRM's pioneering role in translational research, including the world's first clinical application of iPSC (search)-derived cells.
"There are big challenges ahead. By leveraging the networks and expertise of both ISCT (search) and JSRM (search), however, we will create a meaningful global collaboration that will set a standard of knowledge, of approach, and of integration," said Masayo Takahashi, MD, PhD, JSRM Chair for the ISCT-JSRM Joint Collaboration. "Working together, we will accelerate harmonization across key sectors in regulation, medicine, and industry, so that patients not only in Japan, but across the globe, can benefit."
Addressing Critical iPSC Development Challenges
George Muschler, MD, ISCT (search) Chair for the ISCT-JSRM (search) Joint Collaboration, emphasized the timing of the partnership: "This is a formative time for iPSCs. The first rigorous clinical trials are beginning to be reported, particularly in Japan. Regulatory structures have been framed but need to be harmonized internationally. Automated platforms for high quality manufacturing for single individuals and large populations are coming online."
The collaboration is designed as a continuous, outcomes-focused initiative that will identify emerging bottlenecks, develop and implement solutions, and deliver measurable progress year after year for the sector.
Seven Priority Areas for Development
The ISCT (search)-JSRM (search) Collaboration will prioritize and advance developments in seven key areas:
Clinical Translation Enhancement: Advancing clinical translation through shared expertise in trial design, patient recruitment, real-world data integration, and multinational trial networks.
Technological Innovation: Driving innovation by setting global safety characterization standards, integrating AI and automation, and enabling scalable, cost-effective manufacturing.
Regulatory Innovation: Enabling regulatory innovation that reduces approval timelines for iPSC (search) products without increasing risks for patients.
Regulatory Harmonization: Harmonizing regulations across jurisdictions to accelerate approval pathways, reduce operational costs, and ensure consistent GMP standards.
Education and Training: Building capacity from laboratory research to commercial manufacturing, policy, and patient advocacy across sectors.
Commercial Realization: Promoting commercial realization through sustainable reimbursement models and early engagement between developers and payors.
Medical Affairs: Strengthening medical affairs to connect clinical evidence with regulators and policymakers.
Annual Meeting Structure
Beginning in 2026 at the 25th JSRM (search) Annual Meeting in Kobe, described as "the birthplace of human iPSC (search) transplantation," the Joint Collaboration will host annual events to share insights into key challenges and provide updates on collaborative activities. These events will alternate annually between JSRM and ISCT (search) annual meetings.
"Alongside ISCT (search), we see the pathway ahead to fulfilling the promise of iPSCs at a global scale," said Kohji Nishida, MD, PhD, President of JSRM (search). "We are excited to work together on these key events, so that we can both bring our work to the global table, and also learn from others in the CGT space, especially those clinical and regulatory developments that will further shape our success."
Global Impact and Future Vision
Miguel Forte, MD, PhD, President of ISCT (search), highlighted the broader implications for the cell and gene therapy field: "iPSCs provide a unique opportunity for the CGT field as research begins to mature into therapies. There is no stronger foundation here than a proven clinical application, and JSRM (search) has been a driving force in building that foundation. Together with our partners at JSRM, ISCT will leverage its global network to drive advancement from foundation to ecosystem, from region to globe. Success here will blaze a trail for other CGT platforms that are advancing at an accelerating pace."
The collaboration brings together ISCT (search)'s global network of over 4,500 cell and gene therapy experts across five geographic regions and representation from over 60 countries, with JSRM (search)'s position as the largest academic society in regenerative medicine globally, comprising over 6,000 members spanning diverse fields including basic and clinical sciences, tissue engineering, bioethics, regulatory science, and health policy.