Repair the Second Brain

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is an intricate network of neurons and glia lining the gastrointestinal tract, regulating digestion and overall health. Loss of ENS neurons, as occurs in Hirschsprung disease, leads to intestinal obstruction, and treatment options remain limited. One therapeutic approach for the disease is stimulating resident stem cells to regenerate the ENS, and another is through cell therapy to replace the missing cells — but significant challenges remain in translating either one into treatments. Our guests today think about ENS repair through these two complementary lenses using zebrafish and stem cell-derived ENS neurons. Together, their work deepens our understanding of how the ENS develops, matures, and regenerates, and lays the groundwork for future therapies.

GuestsJulia Ganz, PhD, Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, USA 

Mujahid Ali Shah, PhD, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics - Neurobiology, Aarhus University, Denmark 

Marlene Hao, PhD, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Australia 

Lincon Stamp, PhD, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Australia

Eve Sullivan Rowland, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Australia

HostJanet Rossant, Editor-in-Chief, Stem Cell Reports 

Supporting Content | Paper LinksOptimized chemogenetic ablation and regeneration of enteric nervous system neurons in zebrafish, Stem Cell Reports, 2026

Functional maturation of enteric neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells, Stem Cell Reports, 2026

About Stem Cell ReportsStem Cell Reports is the open access, peer-reviewed journal of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) for communicating basic discoveries in stem cell research, in addition to translational and clinical studies. Stem Cell Reports focuses on original research with conceptual or practical advances that are of broad interest to stem cell biologists and clinicians. X: @StemCellReportsAbout ISSCRAcross more than 80 countries, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (@ISSCR) is the preeminent global, cross-disciplinary, science