Press releases and news about progress in stem cell research are published nearly every day. This in turn causes that there are high expectations in the population for the cure of severe diseases with stem cells. Especially patients with so far incurable diseases hope for a stem cell-based treatment or therapy. However, the assessment of new research results, especially with regard to whether and when they could be available for patients, is very complex.
There are only a very limited number of diseases for which stem cell-based treatments have been approved. Most stem cell-based approaches are still in preclinical or clinical research and are not licensed yet to be applied to the patient.
The Stem Cell Network North Rhine-Westphalia informed about currently approved stem cell-based treatment options and provided the appropriate questions and resources you may need to make the best decision about a possible treatment.
Therefore, we have selected various materials:
➚ ISSCR Patient Information Website: About Stem Cells
Published by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
➚ Patient Handbook
Published by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
➚ What diseases and conditions can be treated with stem cells?
Published by EuroStemCell, a European Network of Stem Cell Researcher
➚ Current state of cell-based therapies by disease
Compiled by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
➚ “Fact Sheets” about the curent state of the development of stem cell-based therapies for certain diseases
Compiled by EuroStemCell, a European Network of Stem Cell Researcher
➚ What You Need to Know About Unproven Stem Cell-based “Treatments”
Compiled by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
➚ Nine things to know about stem cell treatments
Compiled by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
➚ Informed Consent Standard for Stem Cell-Based Interventions
Compiled by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
➚ Informed Consent Form for the derivation of stem cells in Germany
Compiled by the Geramn Stem Cell Network (GSCN)
➚ Stem cell tourism: selling hope through unproven stem cell treatments – lessons from the X-Cell Center controversy
Edited by EuroStemCell, a European Network of Stem Cell Researcher
➚ Cord Blood & Uses to Treat Disease
Compiled by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
➚ Central questions and further information on stem cell therapies
Published by EuroStemCell, a European Network of Stem Cell Researcher
Media Coverage
Various private clinics around the world offer stem cell-based therapies, especially on the internet. Often, treatments are offered with the same procedure for a plethora of diseases. Various media reported about it and the recently an important judicial ruling took place to stop questionable stem-cell clinics. Articles are listed chronologically:
- ➚ AG Ferguson wins $500,000 for individuals impacted by US Stemology’s unproven claims that its stem cell injections could treat COVID-19 and other medical conditions
Washington State – Office of the Attorney Gerneral, 09.06.22 - ➚ Column: A stem cell clinic and its doctor will pay a $3.65-million settlement to 1,100 ex-patients
Los Angeles Times, 10.03.2022 - ➚ “FDA to crack down on stem cell clinics with unproven therapies”
Bloomberg Law, 01.06.2021 - ➚ “Column: Paper boosting stem cell firm’s treatments is retracted”
Los Angeles Times, 04.05.2021 - ➚ “Six patients with dementia went to Mexico for an unproven gene therapy, a biotech CEO claims”
Stat, 03.05.2021 - “Unproven ‘stem cell’ therapies for COVID-19 pose harm to public, says UB expert”
University at Buffalo, 28.07.2020 - ➚ “A Judge Rules Against One Stem-Cell Clinic. There Are Hundreds of Them”
The New York Times, 10.06.2019 - ➚ “F.D.A. Can Act Against Stem Cell Clinic, Judge Rules”
The New York Times, 03.06.2019 - “FDA puts company on notice for marketing unapproved stem cell products for treating serious conditions”
FDA News Release, 30.05.2019 - ➚ “The Birth-Tissue Profiteers”
The New Yorker, 07.05.2019 - ➚ “‘Miraculous’ stem cell therapy has sickened people in five states”
The Washington Post, 27.02.2019 - ➚ “Stem Cell Tourism: Experts call for tighter regulation”
EuroStemCell, 05.07.2017 - ➚ “What is Stem Cell Tourism?”
A short video about stem cell tourism made by the Canadian Stem Cell Network, 17.06.2014 - ➚ “Brescia hospitals suspend Stamina treatments”
Gazzetta Del Sud, 02.04.2014 - ➚ “No Point in Testing Controversial Stem Cell Treatment, Italian Panel Says”
Science, 12.09.2013 - ➚ “Stem cell tourism”
Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Spring 2013 - ➚ “Notorious stem cell therapy centre closes in Germany”
Nature News Blog, 09.05.2011 - ➚ “Baby death scandal at stem cell clinic which treats hundreds of British patients a year”
The Telegraph, 23.10.2010
Contents of the former Stem Cell Network.NRW website
➤ Translational Research:
➤ Concept
➤ Clinical studies
➤ Further Information
➤ Discover:
➤ What are stem cells?
➤ Types of stem cells
➤ Stem cell applications
➤ Questions and challenges
➤ Ethics and legal aspects
➤ Information for patients
➤ Research approaches
➤ Explore stem cells
➤ For schools
➤ For doctors
➤ Expert referral
This information on the Stem Cell Network.NRW are also available in German → here.
Diese Informationen zum Stammzellnetzwerk.NRW stehen → hier auch auf Deutsch zur Verfügung.
