1. Hype, hope and reality in stem cell therapy
Associate Professor Megan Munsie
Perspective from someone who has long been involved in the field……

2. Capturing the imagination….

3. Capturing the imagination….

4. Searching for help…. Selling stem cells & hope is big business
Community expectation in stem cell science and what we are trying to do about keeping this in check.
Use internet to search on line – often triggered by media coverage
Rhetoric of hope; A to Z menu of conditions that are claimed to be treated by ‘experts’
Link to clinic websites….promise of improvement – overstate benefit and underplay risk

5. Searching for help…. Selling stem cells & hope is big business
Community expectation in stem cell science and what we are trying to do about keeping this in check.
Use internet to search on line – often triggered by media coverage
Rhetoric of hope; A to Z menu of conditions that are claimed to be treated by ‘experts’
Link to clinic websites….promise of improvement – overstate benefit and underplay risk

6. Patient testimonials presented as evidence
Selling stem cells & hope is big business
Patient testimonials presented as evidence
Academic websites small proportion….ONE promoting SCI trial

7. Reality: selling ‘stem cell’ hope is big business
Selling stem cells & hope is big business
Reality: selling ‘stem cell’ hope is big business
Academic websites small proportion….ONE promoting SCI trial
USA➛187
India➛35
Mexico➛28
China➛23
Australia➛19

8. The reality……experimental

9. Warning signs Not part of clinical trial
Same treatment, many conditions
Asking for payment
Claims of benefit based on testimonials
No harm - especially if the cells come from you
Your specialist doesn’t know about it
Mention Sheila Drysdale and also Jim Gass

10. But at what cost?
“It came down to the worst that could happen was nothing really…we could spend our money and have gotten no result…” (Lisa - took child to Germany)
J Med Ethics 2017 Mar 29. pii: medethics

11. Getting the facts on stem cells
challenge hype
maintain hope
support legitimate clinical innovation