Shinya Yamanaka

Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka presented his visions at the GSCN Conference 2022

Yamanaka at GSCN Conference

Nobel Prize Laureate Shinya Yamanaka gave a keynote at the GSCN Conference 2022 in Münster - a highlight for the GSCN.

Audience at GSCN Conference

Around 500 participants joined the GSCN Conference in Münster

GSCN Public Outreach Event

At a packed public outreach event in Münster Hans Schöler, Oliver Brüstle, Carsten Müller-Tidow and Elvira Mass discussed stem cell research and therapies.

2026: GSCN Conference in Berlin

The 14^thGSCN Conference will be in Berlin-Buch from 9 - 11 Sept. 2026!
Registration is open: Link
Please check out the program, speakers, NEW venue, Presidential Symposium and much more here

11. Sept. 2026: Public Event / Podiumsdiskussion in Berlin

Wie verändert Stammzellforschung die Medizin von morgen?
Diabetes, Muskelerkrankungen, Organoide

Wann: Freitag, 11. September 2026, Berlin, 18:30 bis 20:00 Uhr
Wo: Max Delbrück Center - Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (MDC-BIMSB) Hannoversche Straße 28, 10115 Berlin
EINTRITT FREI
Programm:
18:30 Uhr - Kurzfilme und Podiumsdiskussion
20:00 Uhr - Get-Together mit Getränken
20:30 Uhr - Ende der Veranstaltung

Podiumsdiskussion mit Ärzt*innen und Forschern:
Prof. Dr. Maike Sander
Max Delbrück Center, Vorständin & Expertin für Diabetes / Stammzellforschung
Prof. Dr. Heiko Lickert
Helmholtz Munich, Experte für Diabetes & Stammzellen
Prof. Dr. Sina Bartfeld
TU Berlin, Expertin für Organoide
Prof. Dr. Simone Spuler
Max Delbrück Center, Charité Universitätsmedizin, BIH, Expertin für Muskelerkrankungen
Prof. Dr. Georg Duda
Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Experte für Biomechanik Moderation: Dr. Stefanie Seltmann, Wissenschaftsjournalistin, Heidelberg
Moderation: Dr. Stefanie Seltmann, Wissenschaftsjournalistin, Heidelberg

Alle Informationen hier
Anmeldung:

GSCN Awards 2026

The GSCN 2026 Young Investigator Award goes to Jesse Veenvliet of the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden.
The GSCN 2026 Hilde Mangold Award goes to Maike Sander of the Max Delbrück Center in Berlin.
The GSCN 2026 Publication of the Year Award goes to Annika Zink, Alessandro Prigione, Ole Pless, Markus Schuelke, Annika Wittich, et al. for their publication, “Pluripotent stem-cell-basd screening uncovers sildenafil as a mitochondrial disease therapy” published in Cell on 19 March 2026.

Find the GSCN press release From understanding cells to developing new therapies here
Finden Sie die GSCN Pressemitteilung Vom Zellverständnis zur Therapie hier

Please find all information on the GSCN 2026 Awards here

GSCN Workshop: Computational Single-cell Omics Analysis

Date: 7 & 8 Sept. 2026 in Berlin

↓ Flyer
↓ Program

Venue:
Rahel Hirsch Center, room: 01 327 (Ingeborg Rapoport)
Luisenstr. 65
10117 Berlin

Register ➚ here

Two slots in the beginner level are again available; the advanced level is still available.

This workshop aims to equip stem cell biologists with a comprehensive introduction to computational single-cell genomics, focusing on data analysis using software from the scverse ecosystem. Designed for both beginners and advanced users, the workshop will provide hands-on experience with key tools for processing and analyzing multiple single-cell data modalities, including:

● Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq)
● Spatial transcriptomics
More information ➚ here

Hot off the press: GSCN Annual Magazine 2025/26

Stem cells: Next-Generation Therapies

Content:

13^th GSCN Conference Report 2025

Embryonic or induced Pluripotent Stem Cells - A defining question for the future
Hypoimmune stem cells: Transplants with an invisibility cloak
Stem cell trials: Milestones on the path to clinical applications
The GeneNovate^®️ Entrepreneurship Program: It takes a whole village to bring a medical product to patients
BIH - CLIC: Building the conditions for translational biotech to succeed
Portrait of a GSCN member institute: HI-STEM Heidelberg

Read it online ➚ here (with download ↓ link ).
Read the German version ➚ here (with download ↓ link).

GSCN Article

Comment in Nature Cell Biology

published: 06 November 2025

Bridging science, society and policy with the German Stem Cell Network

The German Stem Cell Network (GSCN) connects science, society and policy to advance stem cell research. Since 2013, it has promoted innovation, ethics and public engagement. Recognizing Europe’s need for stronger collaboration, the GSCN aims to build a pan-European network to enhance research and translation, and to support young scientists.

Authors: Daniel Besser, Sina Bartfeld, Stefanie Mahler

Members

Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD)

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Transfusionsmedizin und Immunhämatologie

Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT)

HI-STEM - Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and experimental Medicine

Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology

Leibniz Institute on Aging/Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)

Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research

Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research

Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Genetics

Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

UniStem Day 2027 is on 12 March 2027.
All information here

Funding Opportunities & Programs

Förderaufruf „Innovationshub Biotech4Proteins – Zellkultivierung und Präzisionsfermentation für neue Lebensmittel“ (only in German)

Der Förderaufruf setzt die Hightech Agenda Deutschland (HTAD) um, indem er Biotechnologie als Schlüsseltechnologie fördert und die Entwicklung biotechnologisch hergestellter Lebensmittel durch Kultivierung tierischer Zellen sowie Präzisionsfermentation vorantreibt.
Siehe ➚ BMFTR Bekanntmachung und die Information beim ➚ Projetkträger Jülich.
(Translation as a courtesy: Funding call “Innovation Hub Biotech4Proteins – Cell Cultivation and Precision Fermentation for Novel Foods” (German only)
This funding call implements the High-Tech Agenda Germany (HTAD) by promoting biotechnology as a key enabling technology and advancing the development of biotechnologically produced foods through the cultivation of animal cells and precision fermentation.
See the ➚ BMFTR funding announcement and the information provided by ➚ Project Management Agency Jülich.)

IPCEI Biotechnology:
The European Union is currently developing a new Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) in the field of biotechnology. One of its three pillars focuses on the application of biotechnology for food and feed production. IPCEIs allow for state aid at a level that significantly exceeds that available through conventional funding programs. Their purpose is to enable highly innovative projects that would not be feasible through private financing alone.
Further Contact project agency VDI: Katrin Spoth und Andreas Ratajczak (industrielle-biooekonomie@vdi.de)

Development's Pathway to Independence programme

The association ‘Development’ is now accepting applications for our 'Pathway to Independence' programme, aiming to support a small number of researchers in the fields of developmental biology, stem cells or regeneration as they transition from postdoc to independent group leader. It's the fourth year that we've run our successful programme, which offers mentoring, training, profile-raising and network opportunities. For more details on the programme, please visit our journal website: ➚ https://journals.biologists.com/dev/pages/pifellows.

Funding of translational projects for therapies with gene- and cell-based products and associated diagnostics

The aim of this funding program was to support the translation of research results in the field of GCT and thus contribute to the implementation of a ➚ National Strategy for Gene- and Cell-based Therapies (GCT) in Germany. Currently, no calls for funding are open in this program.

From the Press

How blood stem cells diversify (GSCN)
Source: BIH, 26.05.2026

Medizin der Zukunft: Darm-Organoid-Modell liefert neue Einblicke in EPEC-Infektionen (GSCN) (DE)
Source: MT Portal, 14.04.2026

Pluripotent stem-cell-based screening uncovers sildenafil as a mitochondrial disease therapy (GSCN)
Viagra compound may hold promise for treating fatal genetic disease
Source: Cell, Science 11.03.2026

Stammzellforschung: Großes Potenzial trifft auf rechtliche Hemmnisse (DE; GSCN)
Source: Deutsches Ärzteblatt, 09.01.2026

In Focus: Obstacles and opportunities for research in Germany (EN/DE; GSCN)
Im Fokus: Forschungshemmnisse und -chancen in Deutschland
Source: Gentechnologiebericht.de, 10.12.2025

Type 1 diabetes cured in mice with gentle blood stem-cell and pancreatic islet transplant
Source: Stanford Medicine, 18.11.2025

Bridging science, society and policy with the German Stem Cell Network (GSCN)
Source: Nature.com, ShareIt link (read only), 06.11.2025

Eleventh report by the German Federal Government on the implementation of the Stem Cell Act (DE)
Elfter Erfahrungsbericht der Bundesregierung über die Durchführung des Stammzellgesetzes
Source: Deutscher Bundestag (21/2560), 03.11.2025

Update of ISSCR Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation in the section on stem cell–based embryo models.
Source: ISSCR.org, 14.08.2025 How immune cells communicate to fight infections and cancer (GSCN)
Source: bihealth.org, 06.08.2025

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