Speaker Profile
M.D., Professor, Stanford
Biography
1988-1992, Dr. Weissman and colleagues isolated the first blood-forming stem cells in mice and humans and successfully isolated human Leukemia cancer stem cells in 2000. His laboratories also discovered the human HSC, a human brain-forming stem cell population, mouse skeletal muscle stem cells, and an osteochondral stem cell in mice. His work and discoveries on stem cell aging contributed to the understanding of cancer stem cells and the immune system and are pioneering achievements with far-reaching clinical applications. Recently, Dr. Weissman and his colleagues identified a protein, CD47, that is highly expressed during the late stages of cancer stem cell progression and is currently being studied as a potential cancer therapeutic. Dr. Weissman, a proven leader in the field of cancer stem cell biology, founded three companies focused on bringing stem cell therapies into the clinic. He was also on the founding Scientific Advisory boards of companies Amgen, DNAX, and T Cell Sciences.
Session Abstract – PMWC 2026 Silicon Valley
Track Chair: Catriona Jamieson, UCSD
PMWC Award Ceremony Honorees
• Judy Faulkner, Epic
• Svetlana Mojsov, The Rockefeller University (GLP-1)
• Alexis C. Komor, UCSD
Opening Talk
• Catriona Jamieson, UC San Diego
GLP-1: From Hormone Discovery to a Global Therapeutic Revolution
• Svetlana Mojsov, The Rockefeller University
What’s Next at Epic?
• Peter DeVault, Epic
Modified mRNA, siRNA, ASOs
• Chair: Alexis C. Komor, UC San Diego
• Niren Murthy, UC Berkeley
• Gene Yeo, UC San Diego
• Reuben Harris, UT Health San Antonio
Stem Cell–Targeted Therapeutics: Small Molecules & Biologics
• Chair: Catriona Jamieson, UC San Diego
• Irving L. Weissman, Stanford
In Vivo Gene Therapies
• Chair: Gene Yeo, UC San Diego
• Mark A. Kay, Stanford
• David Schaffer, UC Berkeley
Diagnostics, Prognostics, and Patient Stratification
• Chair: Ezra Cohen, Tempus
• Eitan Ruppin, NIH
• Danielle Hamel, Tempus
• David Ledbetter, Florida State University
• Ludmil Alexandrov, UC San Diego
Closing
• Catriona Jamieson, UC San Diego
