In a vibrant celebration of international scientific collaboration, the science café "Creating a Healthier You with iPS Cells and Next-Gen Medicine" was held at EXPO 2025 Osaka on June 21-22, 2025. Co-hosted by CiRA, CiRA Foundation, Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM) at the University of Zurich (UZH), and Wyss Zurich, the event showcased the growing partnership between Switzerland and Japan in regenerative medicine and biomedical innovation.

Held at the Swiss Pavilion, the science café featured nearly 30 speakers, including eight early-career researchers, who presented their pioneering work in next-generation medical treatments.

Designed for the public, the talks explored the transformative potential of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and other cutting-edge biomedical technologies for real-world applications in immunology, cardiology, neurology, and hematology while also highlighting how academia and industry are teaming up to bring scientific discoveries to clinical use.

Professor Simon P. Hoerstrup (IREM) delivers the opening remarks on June 21.

Director Jun Takahashi (CiRA) delivers the opening remarks on June 22.

From elementary school students to seniors, the event welcomed 33 and 43 participants, respectively, on June 21 and 22. Through a questionnaire following the event, participants commented, "It was fascinating to have cutting-edge topics explained in an easy-to-understand way," "I was glad to get a glimpse of the work of Swiss and CiRA researchers," and "I was deeply impressed by the purpose and goals of the research."

Associate Professor Akitsu Hotta poses a question to the participants
during his talk.

The speakers on the second day pose for a photographer.

Ahead of the event, a delegation from UZH, led by Dean Frank Rühli of the Faculty of Medicine, visited CiRA in Kyoto on June 20 to discuss ongoing collaborative projects and explore future opportunities for joint research. This visit reaffirmed the commitment of both institutions to advancing medical science through international cooperation.

Another major highlight of the weekend was the June 21 tour of the newly established Yanai Facility for my iPS Cell Therapy, created by the CiRA Foundation at Nakanoshima Qross in Osaka. The Swiss and CiRA researchers were given a firsthand look at the world-class infrastructure supporting iPS cell research and its translation into therapeutic and industrial applications. The tour offered a rare glimpse into the operational backbone that powers many of Japan's ongoing clinical studies and trials testing world-leading regenerative medicine therapies.

Later in the evening, a dynamic networking event hosted by the Consulate of Switzerland and Swissnex in Japan brought together researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders from both countries. The gathering fostered meaningful exchanges, sparked new ideas, and laid the groundwork for future collaborations. It also provided a valuable platform for early-career scientists to connect with established experts and innovators in regenerative medicine.

The success of the science café and its associated events was possible only through the generous financial support of the CiRA Foundation and Wyss Zurich, as well as invaluable venue contributions from Presence Switzerland and Swissnex in Japan. Their contributions helped create a welcoming and intellectually stimulating environment for all participants.

Together, these events exemplified the power of international partnerships in driving forward medical innovation and public engagement in science—setting the stage for continued collaboration between Switzerland and Japan for years to come.