The Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) provides educational information about regenerative medicine and does not give medical advice.

Stem cell therapies are still in development and need to be considered carefully to ensure any therapy being recommended to you is ethical and officially approved for medical use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia.

For any potential therapy you may be considering, it is important you speak with a qualified and registered health professional and ask questions like:

  • Is this an approved treatment for my condition?
  • Is it being evaluated in a clinical trial?
  • Do I meet the eligibility criteria for a clinical trial?
  • Is it still in the research stage of development?
  • Is it approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration?

ARMI recommends researching any potential therapy and speaking with your doctor so you can make an informed decision. Stem Cells Australia offers independent advice and resources to guide you in your research.

You can find out more about clinical trials in Australia here.

How does regenerative medicine work?

Regenerative medicine is aimed at treating a wide range of conditions by helping the body repair tissue or organs that are diseased, dysfunctional or injured.

To do this, scientists conduct research to understand how naturally highly regenerative organisms such as the axolotl or zebrafish are able to undergo partial or complete regeneration and harness this understanding to develop translatable therapies to improve regeneration in humans.

Regenerative medicine can also involve substituting faulty or missing cells with those from a donor or created in the laboratory from stem cells.

Is regenerative medicine available?

Regenerative medicine is already used in medical practice for specific conditions. A segment of liver that is transplanted from a donor into a patient will regenerate into a larger, functional organ. Stem cells found in bone marrow and umbilical cord blood have been used to help patients overcome blood-related and immune conditions. It has also been used to regrow cells destroyed by chemotherapy treatment.

There are hundreds of clinical trials happening all around the world that are aimed at testing whether regenerative medicine could be used as a treatment for other debilitating conditions. Before they can be widely adopted, they must go through a rigorous process. Any new regenerative medicine treatment should always be evaluated to show that it is safe and that it works before being offered to patients.

ARMI researchers and innovators focus on the discovery and development of regenerative medicine. Potential therapies will be evaluated in registered clinical trials to ensure they are safe and effective before becoming widely available to patients.

Check the facts

There are already a number of clinics and companies overseas offering stem cell therapies for conditions such as cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis. These treatments are yet to be evaluated in clinical trials and are not supported by the medical community and scientists because:

  1. There is no proof that the treatments being offered actually work
  2. Because they have not been properly tested, they could pose a health risk to patients.

These treatments are expensive and primarily promoted via testimonials and online advertising. This is also now happening in Australia with an increasing number of clinics and companies selling stem cell and nutraceutical products with ‘regenerative’ properties. We recommend you do thorough research before using such products and ask for evidence behind any claims or testimonials made. It is always best to discuss your options with a qualified and registered health professional who is familiar with your condition.

Other resources and further reading

Our research is vital in discovering what regenerative medicine can do next. Help us find solutions to prevent illness, for patients to live longer and healthier lives, and for our globally renowned scientists to continue their cutting-edge research.

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