oa What We Need in the GCC States to Catch-up with Evolving Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research

Every year we witness the introduction of new drugs and medical technologies that improve the health and lives of individuals around the world. Stem cell research holds an awesome potential for restructuring the way we practise medicine. One day, stem cell researches will dramatically alter the way we treat diseases.

Since the first human ES cell lines were derived more than a decade ago, hundreds have been created worldwide, including lines suitable for clinical application. As such, it involves questions of ethics that are commonly raised in research, such as preserving research integrity and the use of human tissue and animals in research. Moreover, there is much to be investigated about the specific characteristics of stem cells and about the efficacy and safety of the new drugs based on this type of cells, both embryonic and adult stem cells, for several therapeutic indications.

The current reality is that, although extensive researches are ongoing and encouraging partial results are being achieved, there is still much to do in the GCC states to orchestrate the stem cell and regenerative medicine research.