UCT’s Goolam appointed as first African recipient of coveted Goldstein Science Policy Fellow

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) has appointed University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Dr Mubeen Goolam as one of three new Goldstein Science Policy Fellows.

Goolam, the principal investigator of the Stem Cell Modelling of Development and Disease Group in the Department of Human Biology and the Neuroscience Institute at UCT, is the first African to be appointed as a Goldstein Science Policy Fellow. Each of the appointed fellows have extensive interest in science policy and regulatory issues affecting stem cell science and will serve for three years beginning in June 2025.

The other two fellows are Lizhong Liu, an assistant professor at the Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine and Westlake University in China, and Kate MacDuffie, an assistant professor and associate director of research at the Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care at Seattle Children’s Research Institute and the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington.

Goolam has led talks and discussions centered around promoting diversity in stem cell and organoid research. He was invited to present at the International Network for Governmental Science Advice Summit where he advocated for stem cell research in Africa.

Goolam said: “Despite being the most genetically diverse population in the world, Africa is significantly underrepresented in stem cell research globally. Since joining UCT it has been my goal to drive African stem cell research and promote diversity in this field. It is thus a great privilege for me to be awarded a ISSCR Lawrence Goldstein Science Policy Fellowship which will enable me to drive advocacy and public policy in stem cell research in South Africa and the rest of the continent.

“It is critical that the incredible medical advancements that arise from stem cell research are accessible to all, and having inclusive policies around their development is a critical way to ensure this. By gaining experience in this field through this Fellowship I hope to be the voice in the global south that can ensure equality in the public policies surrounding these emerging technologies,” he said.

“The Goldstein Fellows initiative offers unmatched opportunity to be at the forefront of science policy and advocacy work that impacts the future of regenerative medicine,” said Sean Morrison, chairperson of the ISSCR Public Policy Committee. “We have three exceptional investigators joining our policy efforts, each of whom brings an important perspective and helps to expand advocacy education globally.”

The Goldstein Science Policy Fellowship, named for long-time after ISSCR member Lawrence Goldstein, is designed to train scientists to become stem cell policy advocates. Recipients gain hands-on experience in policy work including participating in ISSCR advocacy outreach activities in their region of the world and working with the ISSCR Public Policy Committee on special projects, policy messaging, and communications.

This is the third cohort of ISSCR Goldstein Science Policy Fellows.

Learn more about former fellows and the work of the ISSCR Public Policy Committee.

About ISSCR

With nearly 5,000 members from more than 80 countries, the ISSCR is the preeminent global, cross-disciplinary, science-based organization dedicated to stem cell research and its translation to the clinic. Its mission is to promote excellence in stem cell science and applications to human health.