Feeder-free yet still naïve: improved method for capturing human pluripotent stem cells

Current human pluripotency models are hindered by the need for co-culture with little-defined mouse feeder cells. In this issue, Rossignoli et al (2026) demonstrate that naïve human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can be stably maintained long-term on serum-coated substrates without feeder cells, retaining their transcriptional and functional properties, and offering a scalable, reproducible, and broadly accessible platform for studying early human development. Recent work reports serum-coating as a practical alternative for culturing hPSCs26 while preserving their defining molecular and functional properties.