International Groups

International Stem Cell Foundation  (ISCF)

The International Stem Cell Forum was originally formed in 2002 by Professor George Radda of the UK Medical Research Council, to promote international collaboration in the development of stem cell-based therapies. In recent years, it has been chaired and revitalized by Professor Qi Zhou, Director of the ISCR CAS since 2014 with an earmarked resource from key funders including CAS and CSSCR Continue in the spirit, the ISCF’s mandate is to promote the development of international scientific coordination on issues crucial to our understanding of pluripotent stem cells and their therapeutic applications. The key area of ISCF activity will continue to be providing multidisciplinary support for translational research on pluripotent stem cells.

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Registry  (hPSCreg)

This is a European Commission funded project led by Prof Andreas Kurtz (Charite Iniversitat Medizin) that is required to register and certify that all human pluripotent stem cell lines used in EU-funded research meet appropriate ethical and scientific standards (for further information see). Detailed information on the characteristics of each cell line and evidence of ethical procurement of donor cells is published in an open public database. The project has a large number of expert National Representatives who provide scrutiny and advice on cell lines from their own country. The most recent development is the creation of two new databases, one collating detailed information on clinical trials using hPSCs and the other listing important features cell lines which are intended as candidates for manufacture of cell therapies.

International Stem Cell Banking Initiative  (ISCBI)

This activity is a not-for-profit organisation coordinated by Prof Glyn Stacey and brings hPSC resource centres from around the world together to seek consensus on best practice in a very wide range of issues in delivery of stem cells for both research and commercial application (for further information see www.iscbi.org). It has produced numerous publications on the banking and supply of hESC and hiPSC lines and organises regular meetings around the world. It also contributes to training programmes and educational symposia.

International Stem Cell Initiative  (ISCI)

This activity is now led by Prof Martin Pera (Jackson Laboratories, USA) following a highly successful period of leadership by Prof Peter Andrews (University of Sheffield, UK). It carries out international collaborative research and formulates expert opinion on key issues in the scientific quality of pluripotent stem cells. Subjects of study have included common biological features of hESCs, It has published numerous publications on pluripotent stem cells and is currently focused on understanding the nature of genetic stability in human pluripotent stem cell lines.