Funding success for prestigious Japan Stem Cell Conference

Philomena Hallford, Biomedical Sciences PhD student celebrates funding success for prestigious Japan Stem Cell Conference.

Philomena Hallford has been awarded £500 from UHI's Institute of Health Research and Innovation through the Scottish Funding Council’s Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Fund (KEIF) and £2,000 from the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation to attend the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) 20th Anniversary Symposium in Kyoto in October 2026.

As a PhD student in the Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of the Highlands and Islands, Philomena is particularly excited to have the opportunity to present her research as a poster at the symposium and to connect with researchers from across the world who are working at the forefront of iPSC technology.

The symposium brings together some of the leading experts in the field, including Nobel Laureate Professor Shinya Yamanaka, whose pioneering research led to the development of iPSCs and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012. Having the opportunity to attend an event featuring scientists who have played such a significant role in shaping this field makes this a particularly exciting experience for Philomena.

Philomena said:

I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to take part in what I believe will be a once-in-a-generation scientific event. Presenting my research in Kyoto, learning from experts in the field, and being part of the wider international research community will be an invaluable experience for my development as a researcher. I am extremely grateful to both UHI's Institute of Health Research and Innovation through the Scottish Funding Council’s Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Fund (KEIF) and the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation for their generous support in making this opportunity possible.