Date: 11 May 2026 (Monday)
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre 1, G/F, William M.W. Mong Block, 21 Sassoon Road 
Host: Professor Mu He

José is a full-time Principal Investigator in the Department of Fundamental Research at the Guangzhou National Laboratory, China, since June 2021. Prior to this, he was a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow at the Wellcome Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, where he led his research group for 13 years. José’s earlier work focused on uncovering the mechanisms underlying the reprogramming of differentiated cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Since moving to China, his research has shifted toward using iPSCs to develop advanced mouse and human embryo models that closely replicate in vivo embryonic development. His long-term vision is to translate iPSCs, via embryo modelling, into clinical applications by generating high-quality cell products for regenerative medicine.

Embryo models offer new opportunities to study development and advance medicine, but current approaches often rely on complex procedures and are limited in efficiency and developmental fidelity. Our laboratory has developed simple and robust methods to reprogram mouse and human pluripotent stem cells into “embryo founder-like cells.” In 3D culture, these cells self-organize into embryo-like structures that closely recapitulate natural development, achieving key milestones, gastrulation in humans and organogenesis in mice. Single-cell analysis revealed a rich diversity of cell types, including many never before generated in vitro. By faithfully recapitulating development, our embryo models provide powerful platforms to dissect the fundamental principles of development and open new avenues for regenerative medicine.

All are welcome.