POST CONFERENCE PRESS RELEASE

The 3rd Pluripotent Stem Cell Conference (PSConf 2023) Successfully Held in Beijing

The 3rd International Symposium on Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Research and Therapy (PSConf 2023) was successfully held from 20 to 23 October 2023 in Beijing, China, in order to promote international exchanges and collaborations in the field of stem cell research and therapeutic transformation, and to promote the sharing of experiences and cutting-edge breakthroughs in the basic research of stem cells and regenerative medicine towards practical applications.

The theme of PSConf 2023 is "Stem Cell Manufacturing: Current Experiences with Stem Cell-Derived Products and Organoids". The conference series invited outstanding international scientists in the field of stem cells, experts from drug regulatory and accreditation authorities, as well as R&D representatives from companies to exchange the latest achievements in stem cell research and translation, and to discuss key scientific issues and technical bottlenecks in stem cell therapy and drug discovery and development.

PSConf 2023 conference site

As the first in-person conference after the pandemic, PSConf 2023 hosted 31 speakers, including a well-balanced programme of Chinese and 18 internationals from the UK, USA, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Italy, South Korea and Singapore of which nine attended in person. Conference speakers represented leading stem cell research institutions, regulatory bodies, manufacturers and the European Center for Validation of Alternative Methods, and stem cell international organizations, to come to Beijing to give presentations. The conference attracted more than 830 researchers from 21 countries and regions to register for the conference, and the whole conference was broadcasted live through the online conference system, with 257 in person attendees and 573 online attendees, representing a significant increase from PSConf 2022. 

Opening speech by Academician Zhou Qi

Zhou Qi, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as the Chairman of the Conference, delivered an opening speech, in which he firstly welcomed the experts from various countries who came to Beijing to participate in the Conference, and reviewed the success of the two previous PSConf symposia on human pluripotent stem cell research and therapy held in 2021 and 2022. He pointed out that at a time when new technologies in stem cell research are emerging and pluripotent stem cell research and clinical translation are shifting towards rapid and high-quality development, in-depth discussion on how new cutting-edge technologies can be utilized to facilitate sharing of information to promote collaboration, working together to improve human health. As the field of stem cell research and therapy involves not only scientific advances, but also many new challenges in terms of policy regulation and research ethics, he expected that this conference will effectively connect different countries, groups and institutions, participate in the clarification of key issues, and reach collaborative agreements to participate in the development of standards and future plans.

PSConf 2023 International Stem Cell Organisation Bridging Meeting

On the first day of the conference, the International Stem Cell Organisation Bridging Meeting and the International Stem Cell Alliance (ISCA) Partners' closed-door Meeting were held. As the secretary-general of the conference, Hu Baoyang, Excutive Director of BSCRM, introduced the scientific research achievements and management progress of BSCRM, and emphasised the synergistic role of ISCA in linking domestic and international organisations; Zhao Tongbiao, Vice-Director of BSCRM, introduced the support of Keqiao Foundation to the international exchanges and cooperation projects; and Gu Qi, Professor of Institute of Zoology (IOZ), CAS, presented the future development of Human Organ Physiopathology Emulation System (HOPE) for resource platform sharing and incubating international large-scale scientific programmes; Academician Bian Xiuwu introduced the latest progress of the Stem Cell Branch of the Chinese Society of Cellular Biology (CSSCR) and the Collaborative Innovation Platform of Chinese Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (CASCRM).

Executive Director Hu Baoyang introduced the Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine

Glyn Stacey, founding director of the International Stem Cell Banking Initiative (ISCBI), Andreas Kurtz, head of the European Commission's Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Registry (hPSCreg), and Martin Pera, head of the International Stem Cell Initiative (ISCI), on behalf of their respective international academic organizations, introduced the activities and progress of work of the previous year to the delegates. The participants were briefed on the activities and progress of the previous year.

In the subsequent discussion, the representatives of the participating international organizations had an in-depth dialogue with the directors of the Stem Cell Branch of the Chinese Society of Cell Biology and the China Collaborative Innovation Platform for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, and reached an agreement on the joint promotion of the international collaborative development of stem cell standards, ethics, and the open sharing of stem cell data resources.

Discussion between representatives of international stem cell organisations

The open programme of PSConf 2023 stared with a keynote presentation by Prof Masayo Takahashi, Chairman of Vision Care Japan. The conference was intended to address the key issues facing the process of pluripotent stem cell drug formation, with special sessions of keynote presentations, and roundtable discussions and open workshop sessions on four topics, focusing on the experience of human pluripotent stem cell product manufacture, stem cell genome stability and tumorigenicity studies, preparation and standardization of organoids, and ethical governance and regulation of stem cell applications.

PSConf 2023 Keynote presentaion and Q&A discussion

Presentation of the European Commission's Reference Laboratory for Alternatives to Animal Testing by Dr Lucia Selfa Aspiroz

PSConf 2023 round table discussion

Since its establishment, the Beijing Institute of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine has been committed to promoting international synergistic development in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine, and seeks to make the PSConf series of conferences an important international academic exchange platform for fostering international co-operation and deepening partnerships, and to provide researchers in the field of stem cells and practitioners in the stem cell industry from all over the world with a sharing of knowledge, technology and experience. 

We look forward to seeing you again at PSConf 2024 next year!

Thanks again to the hosts, co-organizers and organizing members of the conference:

Co-Hosts:

International Stem Cell Alliance

Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine

Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine

Keqiao Foundation

Co-Organizers:

National Stem Cell Resource Center, China

The Chinese Society for Stem Cell Research

China Alliance of National Stem Cell Resource Centers

International Stem Cell Forum (ISCF)

In-Collaboration:

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Registry, hPSCreg

International Stem Cell Banking Initiative, ISCBI

International Stem Cell Initiative, ISCI

Supported By:

Chinese Academy of Sciences

Meeting Organizers:

Chairman:

Prof Qi Zhou (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Chair of the Scientific Committee:

Prof Glyn Stacey (National Stem Cell Resource Center)

Secretary-General:

Prof Baoyang Hu (Excutive Director, BISCRM)

Secretary：

Dr Yin Lin (Senior Manager for International affairs, BISCRM)

Information of the PSConf 2023 can be found at https://2023psconf.tiemeeting.com