title: Stem cell therapy: facts and fiction.
abstract: This opinion paper is a brief overview of the current state of the translation of stem cell therapy from the bench to the clinic. The hype generated by the great medical potential of stem cells has lead to hundreds of clinics worldwide claiming to have the cure for every imaginable condition. This fraudulent practice is far from the reality of scientists and bona fide companies. Much effort is put into addressing all the hurdles we have been encountering for the safe use of stem cells in therapy. By now, a significant number of clinical trials are booking very exciting progress, opening a realistic path to the use of these amazing cells in regenerative medicine.
authors.affiliation: Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spits
keywords: Embryonic stem cells; clinical trial; induced pluripotent stem cells; regenerative medicine; safety; stem cell therapy
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