Dr. Sally Temple is the Scientific Director of the Neural Stem Cell Institute (NSCI) located in Albany NY, where she leads research programs focused on how stem cells contribute to the development, maintenance, and repair of the central nervous system. She earned her undergraduate degree in developmental neuroscience from the University of Cambridge, UK, and her Ph.D. in optic nerve development from University College London. During her postdoctoral studies at the University of Miami, Dr. Temple demonstrated the existence of stem cells in the embryonic mammalian central nervous system, a foundational contribution to the neural stem cell field. In recognition of her pioneering work, she received a MacArthur Fellowship. Dr. Temple has served as both President and Board Member of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) and was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Medicine. Her current research spans basic and translational neuroscience. She is leading programs using brain organoids to study neurodegenerative diseases such as frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Temple is also developing a stem cell–based therapy for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a clinical-stage program she co-leads with her husband, Dr. Jeffrey Stern, sponsored by the National Eye Institute and LUXA biotech.