Survey of Stem Cell Clinics Reveals Cause for Concern

Two coauthors of a new study discuss their findings about nearly 170 facilities in the southwestern US selling unproven therapies—and what should be done about them.

Jef Akst

| 4 min read

Listen with Speechify

0:00

4:00

ABOVE: © ISTOCK.COM, PABLO_K

Stem cell therapies have long been a thorn in the side of the scientific, medical, and regulatory communities because they offer unproven treatments while claiming to not be subject to oversight by the US Food and Drug Administration. A federal court ruling just last month may give the agency more power stop providers from hawking these products, but an important piece of the puzzle is understanding this dynamic marketplace.

Arizona State University (ASU) stem cell biologist David Brafman, his ASU colleague Emma Frow, who studies science policy and the governance of biotechnology, and their collaborators characterized 169 clinics currently offering stem cell treatments in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The Scientist spoke with Brafman and Frow about their findings, published today (August 1) in Stem Cell Reports.

Brafman: About four years ago, in early 2015, I decided to move my lab from UCSD ...

Interested in reading more?

The Scientist ARCHIVES

Become a Member of

Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!

Join for free today

Already a member? Login Here

Keywords

Meet the Author

Jef Akst
Jef Akst was managing editor of The Scientist, where she started as an intern in 2009 after receiving a master’s degree from Indiana University in April 2009 studying the mating behavior of seahorses.
View full profile