Stem Cell Clinical Trials – Canadian Stem Cell Foundation

The therapeutic potential of stem cells has so profoundly changed the landscape of medical research that it has spawned an entirely new field regenerative medicine.

There is indeed a great deal of promise, but also a tendency to think that a cure is just around the corner. The path from research to the clinic is often long and complicated, with many small advances. Our aim is to present an objective view of the most important advances, to provide a foundational knowledge against which to read and evaluate new research as it emerges.

A recent Canadian report examined the state of novel stem cell clinical trials around the world. Find out more here.

Generally, it is helpful to understand four different approaches to using stem cells for clinical benefit, in addition to their still critical role in understanding the disease process.

Stem cell transplantation Cellular therapy Tissue regeneration Drug discovery

General information on clinical trials Where can I find out about ongoing stem cell therapies or clinical trials?

Stem cell transplantation exploits the special characteristics of stem cells to multiply indefinitely and to become other cells required by the body. For example, stem cells that reside in the bone marrow or are plentiful in cord blood are removed and used to generate new blood cells. These are then transplanted back into the body, thereby restoring a patient's immune system and capacity to fight disease.

Cellular therapy relies on stem cells' ability to regenerate indefinitely and to evolve from one kind of cell to another based on elaborate codes and cues. Stem cells residing in our own tissues may be re-programmed, or new ones manufactured artificially through therapeutic cloning, to replace the cells damaged by disease or injury. Then, these can be generated in large enough quantities for transplantation.

While stem cells help scientists to understand the mechanisms and pathways that initiate and perpetuate disease, it is now evident that they can also be mobilized to reverse this process. By manipulating growth factors that enhance stem cell activity and silencing the genes that drive disease, scientists are already demonstrating that stem cells will be able to regenerate tissue and restore lost function.

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Stem Cell Clinical Trials - Canadian Stem Cell Foundation