Leonard Zon, Harvard Medical School

Stem cell biology has been a preeminent science since 1961 when Till and McCulloch discovered that bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells could rescue an irradiated mouse by restoring its blood system1. Since 1998, when human embryonic stem cells became available, the field has progressed at an ultrafast pace. Now, scientists must organize themselves so that further expansion represents “smart growth.”

As fields begin to accelerate, leaders must develop an infrastructure that facilitates the science and addresses public policy. The Society for Stem Cell Research has taken on such a leadership role. Based on the great turnout in Australia last June for the annual meeting, ISSCR clearly has become the major voice of stem cell researchers throughout the world.

Putting the international in ISSCR

We realized we needed to do more than move our conference off North America; we needed to connect stem cell science across the world.

Founded in 2002, the Society was initiated by a small group of scientists including myself. We hoped to promote stem cell research, to deal with ethical issues surrounding stem cells and to help governments. At our first board meeting, we realized that most of us came from North America, so we expanded the number of board positions from 15 to 21 and recruited scientists from the rest of the world. This small, early step signaled that the ISSCR would establish a worldwide network for stem cell researchers.

At the second board meeting, we created an international committee to promote collaboration throughout the world and to discuss general policies that could span countries. By our third meeting in 2005 in San Francisco, international efforts were more important than anything else. Daily news reports about stem cell research came from many countries; stem cell biology had gone global. This globalization extended both to the excitement and to the controversies, such as the fraudulent cloning experiments in South Korea.

One straightforward way to make our efforts more internationally relevant was to move our annual meeting away from North America. We chose Cairns, Australia for our 2007 meeting, the fifth annual meeting. Even though we'd chosen Australia after reviewing several proposals, we worried. Would enough people travel to Australia to justify holding the meeting there? Our meetings by this time were drawing 2,000 to 2,500 attendees. But Australia was not an easy destination for many of us. Travelling from Boston to Cairns, for example, could take 24 hours and is very expensive.

But it is clear now that our efforts were successful. The Australian meeting showed how the Society has flourished and provided a wonderful example of how scientists can interact. The meeting featured the first plenary presented by a Chinese investigator, giving direct insight in to the efforts of that great country. Two-thirds of the nearly 2,000 attendees came from outside North America, with tremendously increased participation from Southeast Asia and Australia. In 2009, the meeting will be in London, further supporting the work that is continuing in Europe.

At our meeting in San Francisco, we realized we needed to do more than move the conference off North America; we needed to connect stem cell science across the world, particularly in regard to ethical guidelines. The United States National Academy's Guidelines on Stem Cell Research had helped clarify ethical standards for stem cell research in my country, but it was clear that international governments are wrestling with differences in cultures. International investigators and ethicists joined a subcommittee chaired by George Daley to create a set of standards aimed to apply to all countries conducting work on pluripotent stem cells. With a huge amount of work and money, international guidelines were developed that are now adopted by many countries and represent what the ISSCR can bring to international collaboration and research.

Keeping the future in ISSCR

Many societies shift when they reach their fifth year, and the ISSCR will be no exception. The ISSCR will continue to stand for excellent research and collaboration, and with the success of the Australia meeting, drawing nearly 2,000 individuals, the ISSCR now represents the largest society of stem cell researchers in the world.

The new leaders face a host of decisions. What's the best size for the meeting? Should we try to keep it from becoming too large? More than 2,500 persons are expected to attend the next meeting in Philadelphia. As the meeting grows larger, we must make sure all groups within the stem cell research community are represented. This year, the number of talks on ES cell research was extensive, perhaps up to 65% of the meeting. As we move forward, it is possible that more simultaneous sessions will be necessary to accommodate the increased volume of people who are doing stem cell research, both embryonic and adult. The tenor of the meeting will change as it becomes larger, and as scientists spend less time sitting together in the same room. Being careful to promote premier work in all aspects of the field will become even more critical.

In the past, specific projects have been spearheaded by the president of the ISSCR. However, budget constraints meant that only a single project could be done each year. For instance, last year's project was to write the international guidelines. Two years before that, the project was to produce a video of the basic biology of stem cell research. To increase the number of activities the ISSCR can carry out, the ISSCR must raise funds to support its existence. With extra funds, the Society could take on more leadership roles to foster science across the world. Several efforts are headed in that direction, including the establishment of a global council to strategize on the best way to build international relations, including the development of interactions between industry and academia. I am very excited about the concept of a global council. Capable business individuals, government officials and scientists will help steer ISSCR to make informative decisions. Such efforts could lead to faster science and new therapies. The structure of this council remains to be established, but it is critical to the mission of the ISSCR. In addition, clinical networks must be established to help translate bench science into experimental medicines.

The ISSCR should also begin to facilitate international collaborations. One strategy for this is to develop computer databases and websites that will establish information on new ES cell lines. Such an effort could facilitate research among individuals and establish methods for scientific interactions who do not have access to particular reagents. Reagent collection and documentation is another avenue, including protocols. Current Protocols has also established a relationship with ISSCR that we hope will allow scientists to be effective and efficient. The ISSCR should create the database for information regarding stem cell lines. This will include a current registry for new lines plus references to disease-specific ES cells. This may involve collaborations with such groups as the International Stem Cell Forum.

ISSCR should also organize fellowship activities and the training of young investigators, by developing courses to educate scientists who are new to the field. ISSCR's work on ethical issues will also continue.

When I look to the future of ISSCR, I am encouraged by its past. The ISSCR has flourished during its first five years. Meetings have attracted more attendees, sponsorship, and speakers. People are interested in volunteering to help. We encourage them to join committees. The ISSCR can help the stem cell community thrive without splintering. The Society will stimulate research in stem cell research, both embryonic and adult, both basic and applied.

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