The 13th Annual Conference of the German Stem Cell Network (GSCN) took place from 15 –17 October 2025 on the campus of Helmholtz Munich.
More than 500 scientists from Germany and abroad attended to present and discuss the latest research findings, methods, and technological developments in the field of stem cell research.
The scientific program covered a broad range of topics and formats. Six internationally renowned experts delivered plenary lectures: Viviane Tabar (New York City, USA), Timm Schroeder (Basel, Switzerland), Jacob Hanna (Rehovot, Israel), Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann (Göttingen, Germany), Hongkui Deng (Beijing, China), and Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla (Munich, Germany). In addition, the → 2025 GSCN Awards were presented to honor outstanding achievements in stem cell research.
A total of 144 contributions in 54 scientific talks, three thematic symposia, and two poster sessions highlighted the breadth and diversity of current research priorities. Complementing the main program, a computational workshop and the popular non-PI meeting for early-career researchers took place on the day before the conference.
An industry exhibition with 39 exhibitors and dedicated industry sessions provided insights into new technologies, products, and services for stem cell research and its applications.
The conference made extensive use of the Helmholtz Munich research campus for its parallel sessions and discussions. In addition to fundamental research, disease-relevant topics and potential therapeutic applications were increasingly in focus. The event offered numerous opportunities for scientific exchange, interdisciplinary networking, and the initiation of new collaborations.
A joint conference evening on 16 October 2025, featuring a regional cultural program, provided a festive conclusion to the event.
The 14th GSCN Conference will take place 9 – 11 September 2026 at the Technical University of Berlin!
Yours,
Heiko Lickert (GSCN President)