Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Researchers gather in Ottawa for the 2025 Till & McCulloch Meetings

Ottawa, ON – November 3, 2025 – The Stem Cell Network (SCN) is excited to welcome nearly 500 researchers, clinicians, trainees, and industry leaders to Ottawa for the 2025 Till & McCulloch Meetings (TMM), Canada’s premier stem cell and regenerative medicine conference. Taking place from November 3 to 5, this annual conference will feature cutting-edge research, support meaningful collaboration, and spotlight emerging innovations that are shaping the future of regenerative medicine.

“We are thrilled to host TMM2025 in Ottawa this year,” said Dr. Michael Rudnicki, Scientific Director of the Stem Cell Network. “This year’s program reflects the significant scientific advancements being made in the field of regenerative medicine, as well as critical research on public trust and misinformation. I’m inspired to see our community come together as we drive forward new therapies, treatments, and technologies, all with the shared goal of transforming lives.”

The conference will include an impressive line-up of speakers, including two keynote speakers:

• Professor Timothy Caulfield, from the University of Alberta, will open the conference by exploring what the most recent evidence tells us about the nature and source of the current infodemic, and provide science-informed recommendations to cut through the noise and forge a healthy path forward in the context of stem cell research and regenerative medicine.
• Dr. Christine Mummery, from Leiden University Medical Center, will close the conference, discussing how human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are being used to create complex heart tissue models that more closely reflect real human physiology, work that is helping to accelerate discoveries in cardiovascular disease modelling, drug development, and safety testing.

Always a conference highlight, this year’s Till & McCulloch Lecture will be presented by Dr. Maria Cristina Nostro, from McEwen Stem Cell Institute at University Health Network, in recognition of her contribution to global stem cell research through her paper published in Cell Stem Cell entitled, “Embryonic macrophages support endocrine commitment during human pancreatic differentiation.” In addition, Brandon Murareanu, from the Stephanie Protze Lab at the McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, will be presented with the prestigious Drew Lyall Award of Excellence, recognizing the top-ranked abstract in the TMM2025 abstract competition.

“TMM is also a celebration of the next generation of talent,” added Dr. Rudnicki. “Our trainees are driving discovery and charting new paths toward translation. I look forward to exploring their research through more than 220 poster and oral presentations.”

This year TMM delegates will also have the opportunity to participate in popular sessions such as the Meet the Experts Luncheon; specialized breakouts, including sessions on research security, intellectual property, and technology transfer; and two open symposia on Wednesday afternoon focused on advancing stem cell–based approaches to cardiac regeneration through synthetic biology, and an innovative therapeutic approach known as direct neuronal reprogramming.

For more information on the 2025 Till & McCulloch Meetings, visit www.tillandmcculloch.ca.

-30-

About the Till & McCulloch Meetings
The Till & McCulloch Meetings (TMM) is Canada’s premier stem cell research and regenerative medicine conference, attracting attendees from across the country and internationally since 2012. Hosted by the Stem Cell Network, the conference brings together world-class scientists, post-graduate students, industry experts and legal and policy scholars who will share the latest research advances and techniques in the field. To register or learn more about the conference visit www.tillandmcculloch.ca.

About the Stem Cell Network
The Stem Cell Network (SCN) is a Canadian not-for-profit that supports stem cell and regenerative medicine research; training the next generation of highly qualified personnel; enabling knowledge mobilization of research; and enhancing the commercialization readiness of stem cell and RM innovations. From the lab to the clinic, SCN’s goal is to power life-saving therapies and technologies through regenerative medicine research for the benefit of all. Created in 2001, with support from the Government of Canada, the Network has funded over 280 research projects and 30 clinical trials, cumulatively driven by experts from 350 research groups across Canada. Since its inception, over 28 biotech companies have been catalyzed or enhanced and more than 7,900 highly qualified personnel have been trained. In 2023, the Government of Canada announced additional funding for SCN through the Strategic Science Fund that will support SCN activities and research through to the end of the decade.