Information for patients

Press releases and news about progress in stem cell research are published nearly every day. This in turn causes that there are high expectations in the population for the cure of severe diseases with stem cells. Especially patients with so far incurable diseases hope for a stem cell-based treatment or therapy. However, the assessment of new research results, especially with regard to whether and when they could be available for patients, is very complex.

There are only a very limited number of diseases for which stem cell-based treatments have been approved. Most stem cell-based approaches are still in preclinical or clinical research and are not licensed yet to be applied to the patient.

The Stem Cell Network North Rhine-Westphalia informed about currently approved stem cell-based treatment options and provided the appropriate questions and resources you may need to make the best decision about a possible treatment.

Therefore, we have selected various materials:

➚ ISSCR Patient Information Website: About Stem Cells
Published by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
➚ Patient Handbook
Published by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
➚ What diseases and conditions can be treated with stem cells?
Published by EuroStemCell, a European Network of Stem Cell Researcher
➚ Current state of cell-based therapies by disease
Compiled by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
➚ "Fact Sheets" about the curent state of the development of stem cell-based therapies for certain diseases
Compiled by EuroStemCell, a European Network of Stem Cell Researcher
➚ What You Need to Know About Unproven Stem Cell-based "Treatments"
Compiled by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
➚ Nine things to know about stem cell treatments
Compiled by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
➚ Informed Consent Standard for Stem Cell-Based Interventions
Compiled by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
➚ Informed Consent Form for the derivation of stem cells in Germany
Compiled by the Geramn Stem Cell Network (GSCN)
➚ Stem cell tourism: selling hope through unproven stem cell treatments - lessons from the X-Cell Center controversy
Edited by EuroStemCell, a European Network of Stem Cell Researcher
➚ Cord Blood & Uses to Treat Disease
Compiled by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
➚ Central questions and further information on stem cell therapies
Published by EuroStemCell, a European Network of Stem Cell Researcher

Media Coverage

Various private clinics around the world offer stem cell-based therapies, especially on the internet. Often, treatments are offered with the same procedure for a plethora of diseases. Various media reported about it and the recently an important judicial ruling took place to stop questionable stem-cell clinics. Articles are listed chronologically:

Contents of the former Stem Cell Network.NRW website

FDA Warning

"Stem cells have been called everything from cure-alls to miracle treatments. But don’t believe the hype. Some unscrupulous providers offer stem cell products that are both unapproved and unproven. So beware of potentially dangerous procedures—and confirm what’s really being offered before you consider any treatment."  (Read the full warning of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA))

EMA Warning

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is “advising patients and the general public against using unregulated cell-based therapies which may not be safe or effective. […] Patients or their families who are considering cell-based therapies should ask their healthcare professional about the benefits and risks of the treatment and which authority has approved it.” (Read the full warning of EMA against using unproven cell-based therapies)

Position Statements

Core Facilities in PluriCore

→ Aachen
→ Berlin
→ Bonn
→ Düsseldorf
→ Dresden
→ Erlangen
→ Freiburg
→ Goettingen
→ Hannover
→ Leiden, NL
→ Muenster
→ hPSCReg - registry

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