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Editor’s Note: The 54th Annual Scientific Meeting of the International Society for Experimental Hematology (ISEH 2025) was held from September 24–27, 2025, in Kumamoto, Japan. As one of the most prestigious international conferences in the field of hematology, this year’s meeting gathered leading experts from around the world to engage in in-depth discussions on the latest advances in basic hematology, immunology, stem cell research, and cell and gene therapy. During the conference, Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier had the privilege of interviewing Professor Toshio Suda, former President of ISEH and Distinguished Professor at Peking Union Medical College, who shared his insights on the major highlights of the meeting and the latest developments in stem cell research. 

Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier:

You previously served as the President of the International Society for Experimental Hematology (ISEH), and now you are witnessing the conference being held in Kumamoto. How do you assess the unique value of this conference?

Prof. Toshio Suda: Ten years ago, I served as the President of ISEH. This conference, held in Kumamoto, Japan, is marked by significant innovation due to the active participation of numerous Chinese researchers, whose attendance ranked first among all participating groups, endowing the event with exceptional commemorative value. As is well known, Chinese hematology has reached an internationally leading level, signifying that we are entering a new era in the field of hematology.

Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier:

One of the highlights of this conference is the “China–Japan Stem Cell and Cell Therapy Joint Symposium.” What is your view on the prospects for academic exchange and collaboration between China and Japan in the field of hematology?

Prof. Toshio Suda: We successfully held the pre-conference symposium titled “China–Japan Joint Workshop on Stem Cells and Cell Therapy,” achieving outstanding results with the strong support of Professors Tao Cheng and Jianxiang Wang. As early as 40 years ago, the two countries maintained close academic exchanges, which were subsequently interrupted. Consequently, there is now an urgent need to revive and continue this dialogue.

Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier:

In this conference, you shared your research on “Hematopoietic Stem Cell Self-Renewal Activity: From Birth to Aging.” Could you elaborate on the significance of this research for understanding stem cell function and its potential clinical applications?

Prof. Toshio Suda: Stem cell biology, as a foundational discipline supporting cell therapy, has shown remarkable progress in recent years in areas such as in vitro stem cell expansion and various cell therapies, including CAR-T therapy. Effectively translating basic research findings into clinical applications is critical to advancing this field, offering broad and far-reaching prospects.

Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier:

Looking ahead, what areas do you believe have the most potential in hematopoietic stem cell research or basic hematology? What are the key scientific or technical challenges that remain, and which breakthroughs do you anticipate may occur through future research?

Prof. Toshio Suda: Significant progress has been made in recent years in the fields of ex vivo stem cell expansion, gene therapy, and immunotherapy, although predicting breakthroughs in these areas is challenging, as outstanding results often emerge unexpectedly. At present, it can be envisaged that ex vivo expanded stem cells may be used for transplantation in patients with blood disorders. However, to sustain the advancement of these cutting-edge therapies, basic scientific research must be pursued persistently.

Expert Profile

Professor Toshio Suda Distinguished Professor, Peking Union Medical College Professor Suda’s research focuses on the regulation of the hematopoietic stem cell microenvironment, molecular and metabolic regulation, and the mechanisms underlying stem cell aging. With over four decades of pioneering work in the regulation of hematopoietic stem cells, he has previously served as Professor at Keio University (Japan), Senior Principal Investigator at the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, and Director of the International Research Center for Medical Sciences at Kumamoto University. He has been recognized with numerous honors, including China’s National High-Level Overseas Talent Program and Tianjin’s Haihe Talent Award, and has led major scientific initiatives such as the National Natural Science Foundation Collaborative Innovation Research Team Project and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences’ Medical and Health Science Innovation Program.Professor Suda has published over 500 peer-reviewed papers in top international journals including Cell, Nature, Nature Medicine, Cell Stem Cell, Immunity, Blood, Journal of Clinical Investigation, EMBO Journal, Journal of Experimental Medicine, and PNAS, which have been cited more than 50,000 times. He serves on the editorial boards of Blood, Journal of Experimental Medicine, and Stem Cells, is an advisory board member for Cell Stem Cell, and an editorial board member for Blood Science. He previously served as President of the International Society for Experimental Hematology (ISEH) and currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Experimental Hematology, the society’s official journal.