The Stem Cell Report with Janet Rossant

52 Episodes

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Two Decades of iPS Cells: Perspectives from the Field

2026-10-0729:47

In 2006, Kazutoshi Takahashi and Shinya Yamanaka at Kyoto University published their landmark paper showing that mouse skin cells could be reprogrammed to an embryonic-like state using just four transcription factors. Over the past two decades, this finding has taken the field of stem cell research in many new directions, opening new ways to study human development, understand and engineer cell fate, model disease, and explore new stem cell–based approaches to medicine. As part of the 20th an...

Repair the Second Brain

2026-08-2556:14

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is an intricate network of neurons and glia lining the gastrointestinal tract, regulating digestion and overall health. Loss of ENS neurons, as occurs in Hirschsprung disease, leads to intestinal obstruction, and treatment options remain limited. One therapeutic approach for the disease is stimulating resident stem cells to regenerate the ENS, and another is through cell therapy to replace the missing cells — but significant challenges remain in translating ei...

Born Without a Nose

2026-06-2237:12

Bosma arhinia microphthalmia syndrome (BAMS) is a rare genetic disorder resulting in babies born without a nose, along with eye and reproductive anomalies. Our guests today investigated the developmental basis of this distinct defect using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from patients with BAMS. They assessed the differentiation potential of BAMS patient-derived iPSCs into cranial placode cells, a group of progenitor cells that contribute to the formation of the nasal epitheliu...

Therapeutic Strategy for COVID-19-Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

2026-05-2048:53

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by COVID-19 was a leading cause of severe illness and death during the pandemic, driven by an intense innate immune response, hyperinflammation, and a decrease in lymphocytes. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) represent a potential therapeutic option for ARDS due to their ability to modulate the immune system and inflammation. Our guests report results from a Health Canada–regulated Phase I and Phase II trials evaluating freshly cultured umbil...

Stem Cell-ebration: 5 Years of Breakthrough Science and Insightful Conversations

2026-04-1451:00

Five years ago, The Stem Cell Report set out with a simple goal: to bring the science, the people, and the stories behind stem cell research into one conversation. Since then, the field has advanced at an extraordinary pace—transforming our understanding of development, disease, and regenerative medicine. To celebrate, we’re doing something special. In this anniversary episode, we welcome back past guests—scientists, clinicians, and authors—to revisit where their work began, explore how it’s ...

#box-pro-ellipsis-179328484346326{-webkit-line-clamp:2;}The Stem Cell Report with Janet Rossant

The Stem Cell Report with Janet Rossant