A worldwide group of scientists has updated their guidelines for the research of stem cells in recent weeks. The updated guidelines ask scientists to be very careful about how they describe some of the breakthroughs surrounding stem cells, which are often misreported in the media.

The updated stem cell guidelines come from the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), who are dedicated to ensuring that medical research is performed with scientific and ethical integrity.

The ISSCR has a strong belief that stem cell research will be able to greatly benefit society in the future. They want the science to be quickly translated into treatments, but also want the science to be rigorous and thoroughly tested.

The group strongly opposes the use of unproven stem cell therapies which are sometimes sold to patients. Because the industry is evolving so rapidly, there are stem cell clinics popping up everywhere and some of them are overstating the capabilities of stem cells or performing therapies that have not been approved by sanctioned medical authorities.

The ISSCR is concerned about the international medical tourism industry, where patients travel overseas to have procedures performed. In many cases, patients do so to save money or because the stem cell therapy has not been approved in their own country. Usually, the therapy has not been approved because scientists have not demonstrated that it works and is safe.

There have been some high profile-cases of people traveling to Mexico to have stem cell therapies that are not yet approved in the United States. In some cases, the results have been positive, but it can also be dangerous.

The ISSCR’s stem cell guidelines also mention the use of stem cells from preimplantation-stage human embryos. They believe they should only be used for scientific experiments with the most rigorous oversight. 

They are also concerned about gene-editing, which is another medical technology set to boom in the coming years.  There is great potential for new treatments, but patients should be aware of the great risk that comes with having a treatment that has not been approved.

Source: Stem cell guidelines would block marketing of unproven therapies

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