Beijing—The Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration is excited to inform you that Prof Glyn Stacey, the winner of the Award for International Scientific Cooperation, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2020).

Prof Glyn Stacey served as the founding director of the UK Stem Cell Bank (2002-2018). Currently, he is a Professor at the Universities of Bedfordshire and Suffolk in the UK, a lecturer at University College London and also holds various teaching positions and consultancy roles for various government and not for profit research institutions in Europe and Asia. He established the International Stem Cell Banking Initiative in 2007 which brings pluripotent stem cell scientists, resource centres and regulators together from more than 28 countries worldwide.

Professor Stacey was attracted to work with the Institute of Zoology (IOZ) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) because of its strong interest in assuring that its research is scientifically and ethically robust which Professor Stacey has been able to build upon to demonstrate the unique value of international collaboration with CAS as a Chinese research partner. His collaboration with IOZ started in 2003 through its involvement in the International Stem Cell Forum originally led by the UK Medical Research Council and now chaired by IOZ.

Chinese science and regulation in the area of stem cell therapy has been developing at a dramatic rate and Professor Stacey has made active and productive contributions to research publications, expert opinion on regulatory systems and development of cell-based medicines for the first clinical studies using pluripotent stem cells in China.

In the day-to-day development of new CAS manufacturing facilities, Professor Stacey has advised on detailed laboratory design of manufacturing and quality control facilities at the Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Furthermore, he also reviewed the quality management system of the National Stem Cell Resource Center and worked with NSCRC staff to implement new quality structures and enhanced ethical governance processes.

Professor Stacey’s involvement in Standards has led to his contribution to Chinese standards published in English, the development of the first international stem cell ISO standards led by CAS IOZ and a series of internationally influential consensus documents on stem cells from the International Stem Cell Banking Initiative.    

active programme of teaching and training courses in China at CAS Institutions has been undertaken by Professor Stacey and he has also been heavily involved in bringing together a group of lead international stem cell research centres together under the CAS International Stem Cell Network project to create a network of expert groups to collaborate on development of stem cell-based therapy. In addition, he has also facilitated the establishment of a collaboration to develop international interoperability in stem cell data. For the future the coordination and expansion of these networks and development of collaborations arising from them will hopefully help to build Chinese engagement and leadership in the stem cell field on an international stage.