Crowdfunding for stem cell-based interventions to treat neurologic diseases and injuries.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the marketplace for direct-to-consumer (DTC) unproven stem cell-based interventions (SCBI) for neurologic diseases and injuries using crowdfunding data. METHODS: Search terms were developed from previous empirical studies of DTC businesses and the International Classification of Diseases-11 for neurologic diseases and used to query GoFundMe's internal search engine. Campaigns initiated November 2017-2018 and seeking SCBI for neurologic diseases and injuries (n = 1,030) were reviewed to identify the number of donors, number of Facebook shares, recipient location, funding pledged, funding requested, underlying neurologic condition, treatment location, and treatment facility name. RESULTS: A total of 1,030 crowdfunding campaigns for SCBI for neurologic diseases and injuries requested $33,449,979 and received $5,057,069 from 38,713 donors. The most common neurologic condition identified was multiple sclerosis (MS) (n = 404, 35.5%). Of campaigns naming specific destination facilities (n = 392), the most common clinical settings identified were the Stem Cell Institute in Panama City, Panama (n = 91, 23.2%), StemGenex in San Diego, California (n = 44, 11.2%), and Clinica Ruiz in Puebla, Mexico (n = 36, 9.2%). CONCLUSIONS: MS dominated the total number of crowdfunding campaigns. Most campaigns were linked to individuals from regions geographically proximal to destination facilities advertising SCBI for particular neurologic diseases. Most of the clinical destinations were located in comparatively high-income countries such as the United States, Mexico, and Panama. These findings provide considerable insight into the DTC marketplace for SCBI. Analysis of crowdfunding campaigns can be used to develop more targeted patient education initiatives and health policies related to domestic and international travel for unproven SCBI.

Tech news: stem cells for modeling and curing disease.

Freya Leask explores developments in cell culture and stem cell research that are revolutionizing how diseases are studied and treated.

EuroStemCell: A European infrastructure for communication and engagement with stem cell research.

EuroStemCell is a large and growing network of organizations and individuals focused on public engagement with stem cells and regenerative medicine - a fluid and contested domain, where scientific, political, ethical, legal and societal perspectives intersect. Rooted in the European stem cell research community, this project has developed collaborative and innovative approaches to information provision and direct and online engagement, that reflect and respond to the dynamic growth of the field itself. EuroStemCell started as the communication and outreach component of a research consortium and subsequently continued as a stand-alone engagement initiative. The involvement of established European stem cell scientists has grown year-on-year, facilitating their participation in public engagement by allowing them to make high-value contributions with broad reach. The project has now had sustained support by partners and funders for over twelve years, and thus provides a model for longevity in public engagement efforts. This paper considers the evolution of the EuroStemCell project in response to - and in dialogue with - its evolving environment. In it, we aim to reveal the mechanisms and approaches taken by EuroStemCell, such that others within the scientific community can explore these ideas and be further enabled in their own public engagement endeavours.

Stem cells in court: historical trends in US legal cases related to stem cells.

Using two legal research platforms, we identified 193 stem-cell-related legal cases that were decided in US courts. Classifying the cases by category, we examined historical trends in the types of legal cases related to stem cells. Major types of cases involved plaintiffs seeking to overturn denial of health insurance coverage decisions, disputes related to intellectual property, false advertising, breaches of contract, exposure to hazardous agents, regulatory decisions, stem cell procedures and professional standard of care, use of stems cells in research, and public funding of embryonic stem cell research. Analysis of court decisions provides insight into contemporary and historical legal issues related to stem cells and reveals the breadth of stem-cell-related cases now being decided by US courts.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research: A Policy Analysis.

Many health care issues generate minimal passion, promoting benign commentary and support from the various stakeholders involved. Stem cell research does not fall into this category, and on the contrary, embryonic stem cell (ESC) research has continued to foster controversy and emotion. Since 1998, which marked the first successful laboratory isolation of ESCs, this research continues to ignite moral, ethical, and legal debate over its efficacy. The focus of this policy analysis is to introduce the issues, examine and address the various perspectives that surround ESC research, and present policy options and/or solutions that may be used to successfully create a policy consensus regarding this much debated topic.

10 Questions: Approaches to Research Funding.

We asked four stem cell scientists who recently started their labs or expanded their research programs to share their insights and approaches to obtaining funding. We present highlights from their interview responses here.

Policy Implications of Aging in the NIH-Funded Workforce.

Because of national interest in the "graying" of the biomedical workforce, we examine aging and funding within the pool of NIH-funded investigators and applicants, particularly in the growing field of stem cell research. We provide evidence of a maturing and more competitive stem cell workforce and discuss policy implications.

CIRM and UKRMP: Different Ways to Invest in Regenerative Medicine.

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) and the UK Regenerative Medicine Platform (UKRMP) have similar objectives, but their histories, funding mechanisms, and governance could hardly be more different. Here, we compare the two programs and explore their impact in translating stem cell research into clinical applications.

Stepping Into and Out of the Void: Funding Dynamics of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research in California, Sweden, and South Korea.

Nonprofit organizations and philanthropists stepped into a funding void caused by controversies over public funding of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research. Based on interviews of 83 representatives of 53 funders, we examine the motivations and accountability structures of public agencies, corporations, fundraising dependent nonprofit organizations and philanthropic organizations that funded hESC research in three jurisdictions: California, Sweden, and South Korea. While non-traditional forms of funding are essential in the early stages of research advancement, they are unreliable for the long timeframes necessary to advance cell therapies. Such funding sources may enter the field based on high expectations, but may exit just as rapidly based on disappointing rates of progress.