Ogawa-Yamanaka Stem Cell Prize
On November 19, Gladstone Institutes will honor the 2026 Ogawa-Yamanaka Stem Cell Prize winner, Jun Takahashi, MD, PhD. He was selected for pioneering the translation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell biology into regenerative therapies for Parkinson’s disease, culminating in the world’s first clinical approval for iPS cell-derived cell transplantation.
During this event, Takahashi will be presented with the award and give a scientific lecture based on his groundbreaking translational work.
If you’re unable to attend the event in person, you can register for the livestream.
About Jun Takahashi
Jun Takahashi, MD, PhD, is former director and professor at the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Japan. He received his medical degree from Kyoto University and began his career in neurosurgery at Kyoto University Hospital. He then earned his doctorate from the Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and conducted postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Fred Gage at the Salk Institute, where he began his work on neural stem cells.
Takahashi joined CiRA as a founding member in 2010 and was appointed professor in 2012. He then served as director of CiRA from 2022 to 2026. His research has focused on developing stem cell-based therapies for neurological disorders, particularly Parkinson’s disease.
From 2018 to 2023, Takahashi’s team conducted the world’s first clinical trial of an iPS cell-derived therapy for Parkinson’s disease, work that ultimately contributed to the first regulatory approval of an iPS cell-derived therapeutic product.
His honors include the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research Cell Replacement Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease Award and the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine Award.
The Ogawa-Yamanaka Stem Cell Prize recognizes individuals whose original translational research has advanced cellular reprogramming technology for regenerative medicine. The prize was established in 2015 through a generous gift from the Betty and Hiro Ogawa Family. It also recognizes the importance of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), discovered by Gladstone Senior Investigator and Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD. Chosen by a committee of experts in the field, the awardee receives an unrestricted prize of $150,000 USD. The prize is supported by Gladstone and Cell Press.
Details
Dates
November 19, 2026Time
11:00am-12:00pm PSTLocation
Mahley Auditorium & OnlineAudience
ScientificContact(s)
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