Stem Cell Tourism

Stem CellsPluripotent Multipotent

Embryonic Induced Pluripotent Adult

Promises of Stem Cells

New Treatments

New Drugs

New Research

What is Stem Cell Tourism

…the online, direct-to-consumer advertised industry wherein patients travel to receive unproven stem-cell-based interventions.

What is Stem Cell TourismWhat can they treat?

Oh and of course, aging!

Where is Stem Cell Tourism

China

India

The Caribbean

Latin America

Nations of the former Soviet Union

Even in the US

Where is Stem Cell TourismEverywhere D:

Major warning signsPatient testimonials... and nothing else

One treatment, multiple diseases... too good to be true

Undocumented source of cells or treatment info... do they even know?

No risk... no such thing

High or hidden costs... why would you pay to be in a trial?

Why does it happen?•Media hype

•Scientific illiteracy

•Lengthy process from bench to clinic

•Desperate patients

•Policies and regulations

The Reality...Current therapies

Bone marrow and umbilical cord bloodtransplants

Bone, skin and corneal grafts

That’s it!

The Reality...Potential therapies

A total of 5000 clinical trials has taken place worldwide by 2012.

Li, M. D., Atkins, H. & Bubela, T. The global landscape of stem cell clinical trials. Regen Med 9, 27–39 (2014).

The Reality...Potential therapies

After preclinical testing, new treatments and drugs need to go through clinical trials to ensure

Clinical trials can take over 10 years to complete. 95% of them will fail.

Safety Efficacy

and

Phase I Phase II & III

What can YOU do?Educate Ask Consult

youself & your loved ones

•Canadian Stem Cell Foundation•International Society for Stem Cell Research

qualified doctors

about the treatement, safety, evidence, patient

rights, cost

Make sure your info come from reliable sources!

https://vimeo.com/98467368