Last updated: July 2, 2026 · ISSCA Team
In 2026, the International Society for Stem Cell Application (ISSCA) ran a circuit of 8 international regenerative medicine congresses across Latin America and Europe — from Cartagena to Buenos Aires — convening 39 unique faculty from more than 10 countries. Every congress except the opening one delivered the Advanced Certification in Regenerative Medicine and the Advanced Certification in Peptides. This is the consolidated record.
Where has ISSCA held congresses in 2026?
ISSCA’s 2026 congress circuit moved sequentially through eight cities. Each congress combined a scientific conference with hands-on certification, plus the elements common to every ISSCA event: MedConnect medical networking, a Speakers’ Dinner, a live Q&A panel, international faculty drawn from 30+ countries, and access to ISSCA AI and the ISSCA App.
| Congress | City | Country | Dates | Venue | Faculty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISSCA 115 | Cartagena | Colombia | Feb 27–28 | Hotel Presidente Intercontinental | 4 |
| ISSCA 116 | Cancún | Mexico | Mar 13–14 | Presidente Intercontinental Resort + Renaissance | 12 |
| ISSCA 117 | Asunción | Paraguay | Mar 19–20 | Hotel Sheraton | 10 |
| ISSCA 119 | Lisbon | Portugal | Apr 10–11 | Hotel Cascais Miragem | 9 |
| ISSCA 120 | São Paulo | Brazil | Apr 17–18 | Pullman São Paulo Vila Olímpia | 12 |
| ISSCA 122 | Punta Cana | Dominican Republic | May 8–9 | Grand Bávaro Princess | 11 |
| ISSCA 123 | Lima | Peru | May 22–23 | Hilton Lima Miraflores | 9 |
| ISSCA 124 | Buenos Aires | Argentina | Jul 10–11 | Hilton Buenos Aires | 20 |
Source: ISSCA internal congress registry, 2026. Congresses 118 and 121 are outside this record.
The past congresses, one by one
ISSCA 115 — Cartagena, Colombia (Feb 27–28)
The circuit’s opening event and its one exception: a conference-only congress, held in alliance with TD Abs, with no certification track. Faculty: Benito Novas, Dr. Jason Pencek (DC, FNP), Dr. Andrea Lapeire, and Prof. Dr. Roni Moya (PhD).
ISSCA 116 — Cancún, Mexico (Mar 13–14)
The first Mexican congress of the year, with a 12-member faculty including Rafael González, PhD, Dr. Keith L. March (MD, PhD), Dr. Márcio Kume (MD, PhD), and Dr. Greg Jones (NMD, ABAAHP).
ISSCA 117 — Asunción, Paraguay (Mar 19–20)
A landmark congress for Paraguay, a market in active expansion around peptides. Ten faculty, including Wilfrido Samudio (Paraguay), Edson Perachi (Brazil), and Christopher Walker (United States).
ISSCA 119 — Lisbon, Portugal (Apr 10–11)
ISSCA’s first European congress of 2026, hosted at the Hotel Cascais Miragem. Faculty included Dr. José Carlos Pereira (Portugal), Dr. Alexander Zeuke (Germany), and Brandon Sassouni, MSc (United States).
ISSCA 120 — São Paulo, Brazil (Apr 17–18)
A record-breaking edition against the prior year, with a 12-member international line-up including Luis Felipe Castro Neves, Marina Cordeiro, and Giselle Wernek (all Brazil).
ISSCA 122 — Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (May 8–9)
An all-inclusive format: attendees stayed on-site at the Grand Bávaro Princess, combining conference, certification, and a full social agenda. Faculty included Leonel Chiqui Liriano (Dominican Republic), Chelsea Parr, and Brian Pla (United States).
ISSCA 123 — Lima, Peru (May 22–23)
Positioned as a World Peptide Congress, the Lima edition filled the room and set a historical attendance record for the certification. Faculty included Dr. Christopher Meadows, Dr. Lexi Yoo, Dr. Lauren Fitzgerald, and Dr. Pooja Gidwani (MD).
ISSCA 124 — Buenos Aires, Argentina (Jul 10–11)
The largest faculty of the circuit at 20 speakers, endorsed by the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), debuting the ISSCA Panels debate format and a live podcast recording with Dr. Greg Jones. See the full ISSCA 124 preview.
Which faculty appear across the most ISSCA congresses?
The circuit is anchored by a permanent core of three faculty present at all eight congresses, extending outward to recurring specialists who appear across multiple editions. Recurrence across the 2026 circuit:
| Speaker | Country | Congresses | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benito Novas | United States | 115–124 (all) | 8 |
| Dr. Andrea Lapeire | Argentina | 115–124 (all) | 8 |
| Prof. Dr. Roni Moya, PhD | Portugal | 115–124 (all) | 8 |
| Dr. Jason Pencek, DC, FNP | United States | 115, 116, 120, 122, 123, 124 | 6 |
| Dr. Greg Jones, NMD, ABAAHP | United States | 116, 119, 123, 124 | 4 |
| Dr. Márcio Kume, MD, PhD | Brazil | 116, 117, 119, 120 | 4 |
| Dr. Rafael Rivas Pasco | Brazil | 117, 119, 120, 124 | 4 |
| Dr. Richard Silva, DO | United States | 116, 120, 122, 124 | 4 |
| Yoelma Eid Sandoval | Bolivia | 117, 120, 124 | 3 |
Fifteen additional faculty appear across two congresses; the remainder are single-edition specialists. Full registry: 39 unique faculty.
What every ISSCA congress includes
Across all eight congresses, ISSCA holds a set of constants that define the format:
- MedConnect — structured medical networking among attending physicians
- Speakers’ Dinner — faculty-and-attendee gathering
- Live Q&A panel — direct questions to the faculty
- International faculty convened from 30+ countries
- ISSCA AI — the institution’s own clinical AI
- ISSCA App — library, agenda, certificates, and community
- Two certifications (from ISSCA 116 onward): Advanced Certification in Regenerative Medicine and Advanced Certification in Peptides
Frequently asked questions
How many congresses did ISSCA hold in 2026? ISSCA’s 2026 recorded circuit comprises eight international congresses — 115 (Cartagena), 116 (Cancún), 117 (Asunción), 119 (Lisbon), 120 (São Paulo), 122 (Punta Cana), 123 (Lima), and 124 (Buenos Aires) — across Latin America and Europe.
Which ISSCA congress had the most speakers? ISSCA 124 in Buenos Aires had the largest faculty of the 2026 circuit, with 20 international speakers, followed by Cancún (116) and São Paulo (120) with 12 each.
Who speaks at every ISSCA congress? Three faculty appear at all eight congresses of the 2026 circuit: Benito Novas, Dr. Andrea Lapeire (Argentina), and Prof. Dr. Roni Moya, PhD (Portugal) — the circuit’s permanent core.
Which ISSCA congress broke an attendance record? ISSCA 123 in Lima, Peru (May 22–23, 2026), positioned as a World Peptide Congress, set a historical attendance record for the certification, while ISSCA 120 in São Paulo broke its own year-over-year record.
Do all ISSCA congresses offer certification? All except the opening congress. ISSCA 115 in Cartagena was conference-only, held in alliance with TD Abs. From ISSCA 116 onward, every congress delivered the Advanced Certification in Regenerative Medicine and the Advanced Certification in Peptides.
ISSCA teaches and certifies — it does not treat patients. Certificates are issued to physicians (MD) only; other health professionals may attend the training. — ISSCA Team
