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Stem Cell Therapies: Opportunities for Assuring the Quality and Safety of Unregulated Clinical Offerings Workshop

November 18, 2013

Stem Cell Therapies: Opportunities for Assuring the Quality and Safety of Unregulated Clinical Offerings

Organized by: Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
Sponsored byThe Academy of Medical Sciences (UK), Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, The Ellison Medical Foundation, Howard Hughes Medical Institute & International Society for Stem Cell Research

About the Program:
Stem cells hold tremendous potential to advance health and medicine. Through replacement of damaged cells and organs or supporting intrinsic repair, stem cells hold the potential to be used in the treatment of debilitating diseases and conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and spinal cord injury. Currently, however, the evidence base to support the medical use of stem cells is still limited, with few clinical applications shown to be safe and effective. Despite the preliminary nature of clinical evidence, consumer demand for treatments using stem cells has risen, fueled by direct-to-consumer advertising of stem cell-based treatments. Clinics have been established throughout the world, both in newly industrialized nations such as China, India, and Mexico, as well as developed countries such as the United States and within Europe, that offer “stem cell therapies” for a wide range of diseases and conditions. These treatments have generally not received stringent regulatory oversight and have not been tested through rigorous trials to determine safety and likely benefit, though they are often promoted as being established and effective. In the absence of substantiated claims, some feel that the potential for harm to patients as well as the field of stem cell research outweighs the potential benefits.

This workshop will take a critical look at the current environment in which patients are receiving unregulated stem cells treatments. Speakers will examine the stem cell treatments that are being offered, the potential benefits and risks to individual health, the evidence base needed to substantiate the clinical application of stem cell technologies, and legal hurdles for establishing standards and criteria to govern stem cell trials and treatments. Potential solutions for assuring the quality of stem cell therapies will also be examined.

Full Information & RSVP Links: (both in-person or live webcast): http://www.iom.edu/Activities/Research/QualityUnregulatedStemCellTherapies/2013-NOV-18.aspx

Workshop Location:
National Academy of Sciences Building
Room 125
2101 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC

Contact:
Adam Berger
Phone: 202-334-3756
Fax: 202-334-1329 
Email: aberger2@nas.edu