The ISSCR: Moving the Field Forward Together

Abstract

Welcome to the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) pages of the inaugural issue of Cell Stem Cell, the official affiliated journal of the ISSCR. We are excited to partner with Cell Press in bringing you this high-end forum for stem cell biology research. Stem cell biology is a truly global endeavor, and to fulfill its mission as an international society, the ISSCR must reflect the global nature of stem cell research. It is therefore particularly significant that this first issue of Cell Stem Cell coincides with the annual meeting of the ISSCR in Cairns, Australia, the first annual meeting of the society outside of North America. We have been delighted by the record number of abstract submissions for this year's meeting and look forward to a conference that will provide an extremely valuable opportunity to view the dramatic progress in stem cell research taking place in countries comprising the Asia-Pacific region. Prompted by a call to provide a vehicle for stem cell researchers to exchange ideas and promote professional and public education, the ISSCR was formed in 2002 with Founding President Dr. Leonard Zon at the helm. The prominence enjoyed by the society among the stem cell community is a consequence not only of the remarkable success of the annual meeting but also to the wide range of activities undertaken by the ISSCR to promote the discipline of stem cell research on behalf of its members. These activities are overseen by 16 standing committees, the work of which will be highlighted in these pages over the coming year. In this issue, Douglas Sipp, chair of the International Committee, discusses the global scope of stem cell research and the imperative to proactively engage the participation of stem cell researchers from around the world in the activities of the society. With a membership in 2006 of ∼2500 representing 47 countries, the ISSCR is moving forward well in its mission to represent the interests of stem cell biologists around the world. It is hoped that the creation of a global “knowledge network” will be a major stimulus to drive stem cell research forward internationally. The ISSCR also seeks to promote interaction and discourse between junior and senior investigators. The Junior Investigators Committee chaired by Dr. Kelly McNagny represents the interests of independent investigators at early stages in their careers, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students. The aim is to develop a strong and engaged group of people who will ensure the long-term viability and vitality of the stem cell field. Similarly, the Industry Committee chaired by Dr. Dan Marshak aims to support the critical passage of stem cell research from the bench to the clinic by developing a closer connection between those in basic and clinical research and commercial development. There are few fields of scientific endeavor that represent such a complex amalgam of science, politics, and religion. Not always the most amiable of bedfellows, the inevitable conflicts of opinion that emerge necessitate navigation of a difficult and intricate course in the quest to resolve differences. Communication and education in the form of objective, unbiased scientific information is key to achieving resolution. Here, the ISSCR is a vitally important resource. A recent ISSCR initiative, of which we are justifiably very proud, was the development of a set of guidelines for the conduct of human embryonic stem cell research (http://ww.isscr.org/guidelines). An international taskforce of 30 scientific, legal, and ethics experts, chaired by the ISSCR's President-elect, Dr. George Daley, worked to develop a set of rigorous ethical standards that promote responsible, transparent, and uniform practices globally. We hope that the principles articulated in these guidelines will provide a solid foundation for researchers and lawmakers worldwide. The society also provides a forum in which contrasting viewpoints can be brought together and discussed in an academic manner. In the coming months, these pages will include an article from the Ethics and Public Policy Committee, chaired by Dr. Insoo Hyun, that will explore some of the important ethical issues regarding stem cell research and applications. The term “stem cell” is often used generically by the media and touted as a new phenomenon, and unfortunately, “stem cell” has for some become synonymous with “embryonic” stem cell. Yet as scientists, we are well aware that the concept of stem cells is not new and that the origins of stem cell research lie in studies on the regenerating cells of adult tissues. I am reminded by way of example that 2007 is the 30 year anniversary of the publication by Dexter and colleagues (Dexter et al., 1977Dexter T.M. Allen T.D. Lajtha L.G. Conditions controlling the proliferation of haemopoietic stem cells in vitro.J. Cell. Physiol. 1977; 91: 335-344Crossref PubMed Scopus (1592) Google Scholar). The paper first described long-term bone marrow cultures, an in vitro culture system that revolutionized the study of hematopoiesis and provided unequivocal evidence of the importance of the microenvironment in the regulation of hematopoiesis. This concept, encapsulated a year later as the stem cell “niche hypothesis” by Schofield, 1978Schofield R. The relationship between the spleen colony-forming cell and the haemopoietic stem cell.Blood Cells. 1978; 4: 7-25PubMed Google Scholar, has subsequently emerged as a guiding principle for much of the current research into stem cells in adult tissues. Moreover, the stem cell niche was first studied experimentally in the fruit fly, highlighting the value of exploiting more tractable experimental systems and reminding us that one can never know from what angle of inquiry a key finding will emerge that has widespread implications for the entire field. This argument must be reiterated in the debate regarding research on human embryonic stem cells and those derived from adult tissues. The perception perpetuated in the political arena and in the media that this research can be so simply divided does not, of course, reflect the reality. The importance of pursuing stem cell research from many angles—investigating cells of various origins and using different model systems—is unquestioned by the vast majority of researchers working in the field of stem cell biology and is a view strongly endorsed and actively supported by the ISSCR. A recent article in Time magazine stated that stem cell research “has joined global warming and evolution science as fields in which the very facts are put to a vote, a public spectacle in which data wrestle dogma.” No field of scientific endeavor would wish to be subjected to the trial-by-media to which stem cell biology has been in recent years. Yet despite the political and ethical issues, and the scientific controversies that have beset certain aspects of stem cell research in recent years, the field as a whole continues to flourish. The evidence lies in the ongoing increase in rate of publications covering all aspects of stem cell biology. We continue to forge ahead, yet it is important to remember that the considerable enthusiasm and excitement shared by those of us who work in stem cell research must be tempered by an appreciation of the magnitude of the responsibility we as scientists have—both to the field in which we work and to the public who support our research efforts. Great care must be taken in how we engage with the public. Raising expectations too high carries some grave risks, not the least of which is a potential backlash if stem cell research fails to deliver on some of the “hype” that surrounds this field. The long-term promise of stem cell research is vast, but the immediate barriers of translational research are unquestionably high. The challenge therefore is to promote a climate supportive of stem cell research while maintaining realistic expectations of potential benefits. Managing the delicate balance between “hype and hope” is no small task, but it is one that we as scientists engaged in the field of stem cell research collectively share responsibility. Each of us has at one time or other experienced the passionate desire of the community to see the implementation of stem cell-based clinical therapies. We share that desire and moreover bear much of the responsibility for ensuring that the much-desired progress along the basic-translational-clinical axis occurs. However, it is essential that the rationale, design, and eventual clinical application of any such therapies are based first and foremost on sound science; the consequences of engaging in poorly conceived and potentially harmful clinical applications of stem cells do not need to be enunciated. In the desire to translate our research to the clinic, we must not run but rather take careful, well-considered steps. It is here that the ISSCR, with the underpinning principle of commitment to professional and public communication and education, will continue to be a major resource in the quest to deliver on the promise of stem cells. In closing, my term as President of this society comes to an end at a time coinciding with my move to Houston, Texas, USA and the inevitable challenges I face in establishing myself in a very different “niche” (Figure 1). I am delighted to be able to pass on the presidency to the eminently capable hands of Dr. George Daley. Like me, George will be able to call upon an outstanding team of people at the ISSCR, including Executive Director Nancy Witty, Administrative Director Michael Hagedorn, Manager of Committees and Outreach Ryan Detwiler, and Science Editor Heather Rooke, who will continue to work closely with the ISSCR leadership to ensure that the ISSCR continues in its laudable mission to represent and serve the burgeoning field of stem cell research.