Regenerative medicine has made remarkable strides over the past two decades. We can reprogram cells, edit genomes, and precisely manipulate their biological behaviours. Yet, translating that capability into therapies that are safe, effective, and manufacturable at scale remains one of the field’s defining challenges.
The Meeting for Advanced Synthetic Biology and Systems Bioengineering in Vancouver (MASSIV 1.0) was jointly delivered by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Stem Cell Network (SCN) and hosted by the School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Held January 19-22, 2026, MASSIV 1.0 brought together national and international researchers in synthetic biology, systems biology, and stem cell and regenerative medicine to share visions and advances addressing cross-disciplinary challenges. Although these fields have historically operated in parallel, they are increasingly interdependent, underscoring the importance of events like MASSIV 1.0. This event would not have been possible without the support of its generous sponsors.
MASSIV 1.0 welcomed 140 participants from institutions across Canada, the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The program featured over 50 talks, including 9 keynotes, as well as 60 poster presentations. Attendees participated in interdisciplinary panel discussions spanning topics from regenerative medicine to academic publishing. Special trainee-focused sessions included a ‘Meet with Experts’ lunch and a pitch competition to expose trainees to real-world scientific communication, feedback from industry and academic leaders, and opportunities to refine their research ideas for broader impact.
Intersection of Fields
Historically, regenerative medicine has drawn primarily on cell biology and developmental biology, both of which focus on how cells behave and their therapeutic impacts. Synthetic and systems biology asks a different question: how do we design, recapitulate, and control biological behaviour reliably? The emerging shift from understanding to engineering mammalian and stem cells was a central topic at MASSIV 1.0.
Synthetic biology has developed tools and principles for artificial genetic circuits, dynamic control systems, and programmable cellular logics. Systems biology has made efforts to capture life as a fully interpretable system of parts and has contributed to mapping genetic regulatory landscapes and cellular pathways. At MASSIV 1.0, sessions on high-precision genetic control systems for stem cell fate programming illustrated this intersection by emphasizing that effective therapies require building the underlying biological control systems that enable them.
Several talks focused on mapping the regulatory landscapes that define cell identity and the broader challenges shared across these fields. Participants engaged in discussions on integrated computational and laboratory experimental workflows, predictive cell simulation models, and stem cell-derived organ models.
Translational Discussions
A thread running through the entire conference was the translation of emerging biological technologies. Across sessions on gene editing, tissue engineering, and cell manufacturing, speakers repeatedly returned to similar themes: How can these new tools be applied to biological systems reliably? Can these engineered systems behave predictably in a patient?
Talks on next-generation cell manufacturing directly addressed the production side. A therapy that cannot be manufactured reliably is not yet a therapy in any meaningful clinical sense. On the measurement side, non-destructive, label-free methods for profiling single-cell expression have emerged as promising tools for quality-controlled manufacturing. Sessions on in situ gene therapies extended the translational perspective, examining how precision medicine functions when delivered directly within tissue environments. MASSIV 1.0 highlighted that these challenges are deeply interconnected, requiring stem cell biologists, bioengineers, and clinician-scientists to work within a shared framework.
Development of the Regenerative Medicine Ecosystem
One of SCN’s core commitments is to strengthen the regenerative medicine ecosystem, including the training pathways, collaborative networks, and shared infrastructure. At MASSIV 1.0, trainee presentations and sessions were featured throughout the program, with several awards recognizing interdisciplinary thinking and high-quality scientific presentations. A highlight of the trainee-focused program was the pitch competition, where teams of trainees received mentorship support from senior scientists to prepare for their pitch. This initiative was designed to help trainees foster cross-disciplinary thinking through an industry lens while providing a supportive environment for exchanging perspectives, developing new collaborations, and practicing communicating innovative scientific concepts.
Continuing the Momentum
MASSIV 1.0 highlighted the growing convergence of synthetic biology, systems biology, and regenerative medicine while creating a space for attendees to share cross-disciplinary ideas about translating biological knowledge into clinical applications. The support by SCN and JST reflected a commitment in fostering this momentum. The value of a meeting like this often continues after the event ends. It leads to new collaborations, helps trainees discover new research directions, and encourages cross-disciplinary projects that may not have developed otherwise. Advancing scalable, safe, and accessible regenerative therapies will require ongoing collaboration across fields and a strong scientific community.
