China a rising star in regenerative medicine despite world skepticism of stem cell...

[Duran]

China a rising star in regenerative medicine despite world skepticism of stem cell therapies

Enforcing new Chinese rules for clinics may impact lucrative stem cell therapy tourism but improve international credibility, confidence

This release is available in Chinese.

Chinese researchers have become the world's fifth most prolific contributors to peer-reviewed scientific literature on clock-reversing regenerative medicine even as a skeptical international research community condemns the practice of Chinese clinics administering unproven stem cell therapies to domestic and foreign patients.

Notable research underway

Current research of note includes the efforts of ChinaSCINet, a consortium of 27 medical facilities, starting phase 2 clinical trials to test the efficacy and safety of using cord blood stem cells and oral lithium to treat about 40 patients with spinal cord injuries.

Other clinical trials are underway on the use of stem cell therapies to treat patients of heart attacks, artery obstruction, and liver and neural diseases.

Elsewhere in China, studies are underway on the potential use of stem cells to treat Type 1 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, heart, liver and blood diseases, eye cataracts, and to combat aging.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releas...-car010310.php