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.

• Get a free wallchart on the directed differentiation of hPSCs.
• Explore STEMCELL Technologies’ collection of technical videos and webinars on neurological disease modeling.

Modeling West Nile Encephalitis – Human cerebral organoids effectively model West Nile virus encephalitis and its associated neuronal damage and inflammation.

New Therapy for Leigh Syndrome – Researchers identified sildenafil as a potential treatment for Leigh syndrome.

Epigenetic Landscapes of Breast Cancer – Patient-derived organoids reveal epigenetic subtypes of breast cancer, including a metastasis-specific group.

Unexpected Totipotency in Hofstenia – Hofstenia embryos retain surprising totipotency and plasticity despite early fate-specifying cleavage.

Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Aitor Aguirre

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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.

• Explore a basic overview of organoids and resources to support your organoid culture.
• Explore STEMCELL Technologies’ collection of technical videos and webinars on neurological disease modeling.

Mitophagy Controls Blood Stem Cells – Embryonic blood stem cells expand while staying multipotent thanks to tightly controlled ROS levels regulated by developmental mitophagy.

SLC4A3 Variants Drive Arrhythmia Risk – Mutations in SLC4A3 raise intracellular pH in heart cells, which shortens electrical signals and increases the risk of dangerous arrhythmias.

HSC Dynamics After Myeloablation – After chemotherapy, blood stem cells briefly boost differentiation to rebuild the blood system before returning to normal.

Modeling Duchenne Cardiomyopathy – Scientists generated heart organoids from Duchenne muscular dystrophy patient stem cells that mimic cardiomyopathy.

Photo Reference: Courtesy of Thorsten Boroviak.

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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, discuss the need to accelerate the responsible integration of stem cell–derived models into preclinical drug development. Their conversation reflects growing regulatory and policy momentum around new approach methodologies (NAMs) and underscores the importance of rigorous standards, regulatory alignment, and cross-sector collaboration to improve reproducibility and advance more predictive, human-relevant therapies.

Building on its long-standing leadership in global standards, ethics, and policy, the ISSCR is uniquely positioned to convene industry, academia, and regulators around this effort. The initiative also reflects the Society’s expanding industry engagement, with industry membership increasing nearly 180% over the past five years – creating new opportunities for strategic partnerships to address shared scientific and translational challenges.

• • Learn how organoids can be used to expand clinical applications of diseases and disorders.
  • Get a free wallchart showing how organoids are used as model systems to study infectious diseases, cancer, congenital disorders, and tissue regeneration.

Treating Frailty with Stem Cells – In a clinical trial, mesenchymal stem cell therapy improved walking distance and physical function in older adults with frailty.

Combined Bone & Bone Marrow Organoids – Researchers developed a scalable iPSC-derived bone marrow organoid that models human lympho-myeloid hematopoiesis and disease.

CAR-NK Progenitors Prevent Relapse – Engineered pluripotent stem cell–derived CAR-expressing NK progenitor cells reduced minimal residual disease and prevented relapse in leukemia models following chemotherapy.

Whole-Body Single-Cell Mapping – Scientists have developed a 3D single-cell-resolution map of mouse organs and the whole neonatal body.

Photo Reference: Courtesy of Drs. Shuibing Chen and Hans Clevers

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