Major rethink needed on stem cells and regenerative medicine

UCL researchers are leading a call for a coordinated strategy to reform the management of scientific discoveries and clinical experimentation involving stem cells and regenerative medicine. They argue that a combination of poor quality science, unclear funding models, unrealistic hopes and unscrupulous private clinics threaten regenerative medicine's social licence to operate. To deliver sustainable, clinically significant, and equitable benefits to patients, they say a substantial rethink of the field is needed and that a new strategy should be rooted in 'better science, better funding models, better governance, and better public and patient engagement'. 'The Lancet Commission: Stem cells and regenerative medicine' was published today and authored by experts in science, medicine, law, anthropology, ethics, philosophy, health economics and public engagement from UCL, the University of Manchester, Sense About Science, the University of Bristol and industry. Funded in part by the UCL Grand Challenge of Human Wellbeing, the commission highlights the complex challenges faced by those working in the diverse field of stem cells and regenerative medicine across a variety of sectors and makes recommendations to address the issues. It emphasises the importance of funding the best quality basic research and rigorous preclinical work in animals ahead of clinical experimentation, as well as the need to invest in more clinician scientists to help transition scientific discoveries successfully into the clinic.