We are proud to share some incredible news from the global stage of stem cell science. At the 2025 International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Annual Meeting in Hong Kong, the world’s premier forum for stem cell research, Dr. José Agustín Cota Coronado was recognised with not one, but two prestigious honours: The ISSCR Zhongmei Chen Yong Award for Scientific Excellence and a Travel Award.
These awards celebrate both outstanding science and meaningful impact. What makes it even more special is that the groundbreaking work behind this recognition was made possible through funding from The Homer Hack.
Pioneering “Brain-on-a-Chip” Research
Dr. Coronado, founder of the first human stem cell program within Monash University’s Department of Psychiatry, is tackling some of the toughest questions in mental health. His team is using human pluripotent stem cells to model brain development and uncover the molecular roots of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism.
At ISSCR, Dr. Coronado presented his team’s innovative ‘brain-on-a-chip’ platform, an advanced lab-grown neuronal culture that mimics brain circuits affected in conditions like schizophrenia and depression. This platform revealed how prenatal inflammation can disrupt synaptic function, uncovering key gene networks linked to psychiatric illness and pointing to potential new therapeutic targets.
This is more than just exciting science. It’s a step toward a future of precision psychiatry, where treatment isn’t guided by symptoms alone, but by each patient’s unique biology.
Why It Matters
For families and individuals affected by psychiatric disorders, progress can feel painfully slow. Dr. Coronado’s work is proof that investing in innovative, human-based systems to study mental illness can unlock breakthroughs that bring hope within reach.
As Dr. Coronado himself shared:
“This award validates the importance of investing in human-based systems to study mental illness and opens new doors for collaboration, visibility and future funding. I hope this work can bridge the gap between cutting-edge science and clinical care, offering hope to individuals and families affected by psychiatric illness and contributing to a more compassionate, biologically informed future in mental health.”
Groundbreaking Research Made Possible by You
This milestone is not just Dr. Coronado’s achievement, it belongs to our community too. The Homer Hack Annual Grant funding provided the support that helped this research grow into something recognised on a world stage. Every supporter, donor and advocate played a role in making this moment possible.
Looking Ahead
Dr. Coronado’s next steps are just as ambitious. His team aims to expand the brain-on-a-chip platform to include broader genetic diversity and environmental stress models, while testing and validating potential new treatments, with the goal of turning cellular insights into tailored, effective therapies rooted in human biology.
Research collaborators
Professor Suresh Sundram, Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health
Associate Professor Rachel Hill, Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health
Dr Dong-Hyun Kim, Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health
Dr Andrew Gibbons, Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health
Dr Joohyung Lee, Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health
Dr Kevin Law, Charles, Perkin Centre, University of Sydney
Professor Lachlan Thompson, Charles, Perkin Centre, University of Sydney
Dr Simon Maksour, Charles, Perkin Centre, University of Sydney
Professor Lezanne Ooi, School of Science and Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong
At The Homer Hack, we are proud to stand behind researchers like Dr. Coronado, who are the visionaries who push science forward and bring us closer to answers, treatments and hope for those living with rare neurological conditions.
Together, we’re proving that every step, every breakthrough and every award starts with a choice to support research that matters.
