Shinya Yamanaka is a Japanese physician and researcher who made a revolutionary breakthrough in stem cell research by discovering a method to convert adult cells into pluripotent stem cells. These cells, known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), have the ability to develop into any type of cell in the body and hold potential for regenerative medicine.

He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2012 for this discovery.

He was elected as member of the European Academy of Engineering in 2018.