Stem Cell Research

Pluripotent and adult stem cell research underpins regenerative medicine with multiple clinical trials in advanced stages. The session covers iPSC differentiation protocols for clinical-grade cell production, organoid disease modelling, clinical trials in macular degeneration (RPE replacement), Parkinson's disease iPSC trials at Memorial Sloan Kettering and BlueRock, mesenchymal stem cell therapy evidence (and controversies), and ethical frameworks for embryonic and chimeric research. Discussion addresses iPSC banking for cell-therapy economics, the in vitro gametogenesis frontier, the human-animal chimera ethics debate, stem-cell tourism and unregulated clinics, and the regulatory pathway under FDA's RMAT designation.