Inaugural JAX-NYSCF stem cell conference brings experts to NYC
By Patrick Skahill
Article | September 28, 2026
World-leading experts in biomedicine and biotechnology convened in New York City last week for the inaugural JAX-NYSCF Conference on stem cell science.
The event marked two major milestones: 20 years since the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and the 20th anniversary of the inaugural New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Conference. Following The Jackson Laboratory’s (JAX) transformative acquisition of NYSCF in 2025, the conference also signaled a new chapter—carrying forward a two-decade tradition of scientific exchange while bringing together the strengths of JAX and NYSCF to accelerate stem cell research and discovery.
"It takes a village to advance science," said Lon Cardon, JAX's president and chief executive officer, during his opening remarks. "That has been The Jackson Laboratory's secret over the years, to not go alone, but to recognize the fact that together we are so much stronger."
JAX presented at the newly-joint conference for the first time, reflecting a new integration of JAX-NYSCF's scientific enterprise. Held on the campus of The Rockefeller University, experts presented unpublished research on topics like aging, rare disease, and advancements in gene editing.
"When this conference was started by [NYSCF founding CEO] Susan Solomon, it really recognized the need that we all have as scientists, to come together," said Mary Dickinson, JAX's executive vice president and chief scientific officer.
"But more importantly, the conference gives rise to a lot of bold new innovative thoughts," Dickinson said. "The people that you mix with, the little ideas that turn into big ideas, which turn into funding, which turns into moving the science needle forward."
Hundreds of people attended the two-day gathering, including experts in academia, industry, government, nonprofits, and patient groups.
Keynote speaker Elaine Fuchs, from The Rockefeller University, said biomedical research is at an exciting inflection point.
The tools available for scientists to understand and create "mechanisms of either treating disease or preventing disease” are out there now, Fuchs said. "What [we] need are young scientists and philanthropists who are excited about building upon that knowledge."
In addition to Fuchs, other keynote speakers included NYSCF-Robertson Stem Cell Investigator alums Marius Wernig of Stanford University and Alexander Meissner of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics.
Following the first day, nearly 100 scientists also shared research with their peers during an evening poster session. Topics included tissue regeneration, stem cell engineering and genomics, cancer biology, and neurological disorders.
JAX-NYSCF Conference Gallery 2026
The conference was made possible with the support of platinum sponsors GSK, Johnson & Johnson, gold sponsors STEMCELL Technologies, Ajinomoto, and institutional sponsor Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Video: Dave Wurtzel, The Jackson Laboratory; Photo: Tiffany Laufer, The Jackson Laboratory.
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