The Terasaki Institute and Caltech won a $2.8 million Discovery Stage Research grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to study early human embryo formation using stem‑cell models. The funding backs in‑depth mechanistic studies that aim to refine understanding of early development and disease modeling. The award comes as regulatory and ethical conversations escalate internationally: a Japanese government panel recently endorsed steps that would allow research on embryos created from stem‑cell‑derived sperm and eggs. Bioethicists cautioned that anticipatory governance is needed to address moral and societal implications before research accelerates. Scientists noted the technical term: stem‑cell‑derived embryo models aim to recapitulate early developmental stages without creating full embryos. Funders and regulators now face choices on oversight, transparency, and permissible experiments as embryo‑model systems move closer to clinical and translational relevance.