title: Regenerative medicine in Brazil: small but innovative.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although Brazil has received attention for conducting one of the world's largest stem cell clinical trials for heart disease, little has been published regarding Brazil's regenerative medicine (RM) sector. Here we present a comprehensive case study of RM in Brazil, including analysis of the current activity, the main motivations for engaging in RM and the remaining challenges to development in this field.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our case study is primarily based on semi-structured interviews with experts on RM in Brazil, including researchers, policymakers, clinicians, representatives of firms and regulators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Driven by domestic health needs and strategic government support, Brazil is producing innovative RM research, particularly for clinical research in cardiology, orthopedics, diabetes and neurology. We describe the main RM research currently taking place in Brazil, as well as some of the economic, regulatory and policy events that have created a favorable environment for RM development. Brazilian RM researchers need to overcome several formidable challenges to research: research funding is inconsistent, importation of materials is costly and slow, and weak linkages between universities, hospitals and industry impede translational research.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although Brazil's contribution to the RM sector is small, its niche emphasis on clinical applications may become of global importance, particularly if Brazil manages to address the challenges currently impinging on RM innovation.
authors.affiliation: McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada.
authors.forename: Dominique S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: Abdallah S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Daar
authors.forename: Halla
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thorsteinsdóttir
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes; D001938:Brazil; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000191:economics; D005843:Geography; D006295:Health Resources; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D018973:Intellectual Property; D009042:Motivation; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends*; D012106:Research