The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) has announced it is partnering with the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF), Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF), and Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) in support of a new global initiative to develop standards for human stem cell use in research.

According to ISSCR, standards set researchers up for success, enhance rigor in preclinical research, and ultimately strengthen the pipeline of therapies for patients. Led by an international task force of scientists chaired by Tenneille Ludwig, director of WiCell Stem Cell Bank at the University of Wisconsin, and Peter Andrews, an emeritus professor at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom, the effort will build on previous work to improve the reproducibility of research using pluripotent stem cells from the International Stem Cell Initiative (ISCI) and the International Stem Cell Banking Initiative (ISBCI) and address tissue stem cells with the goal of improving reproducibility of experiments from lab to lab and from cell line to cell line.

“The society is grateful to the BWF, DDCF, and SFARI for making this work possible,” said ISSCR chief executive Keith Alm. “Each recognizes the value of establishing international standards and shares the ISSCR vision for improving the future of human health through basic research.”

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