Present Status

In recent years, clinical trials with stem cells therapy have taken the emerging field in many newerdirections. While numerous task forces continue to refine and expand the role of bone marrow and cord blood banking for their vanguard uses in blood and immuneunological disorders, many more are looking to expand the uses of the various types of SC found in bone marrow and cord blood, in particular Mesenchymal stromal cells, to uses beyond those pathologies that could be corrected by replacing cells in their own lineage. Preliminary results from these clinical researches have produced mixed results.
Mesenchymal SC have been advocated in clinical applications for various diseases and currently it is a frontline candidate worldwide to be utilized for cellular therapies on experimental basis. Broadly there are two postulated mechanism of action -Direct homing in or away from lesion area and Paracrine effect probably mediated through cytokines or other mediators. The latter is relatively new and opens the window for more wider and generalized clinical application irrespective of defined pathology.

There are 462clinical trials being undertaken using autologous and allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from different sources for various diseases, which makes them one of the most researched SC for therapeutics. These consists of approximately 30,000 patients in total.(out of these 50% studies have already completed till July 2014 and results of 280 studies has already been published in peer reviewed journals indexed in National library of medicine( which consist of approximately 14000-16000 patients). It has been indicated in some of these studies that Mesenchymal stromal cells derived from umbilical cord are biologically similar or better as compared to other sources of MSCs.
What exactly are these biological wonders called mesenchymal stromal cells? They may be tiny, but their impact is ground shaking, invoking excitement among medical scientists. They are reported to be nothing short of miraculous. But they have also ignited fear and mistrust in many. In fact, recent research on stem cells raises important issues as rapidly as it generates new discoveries, inventions &innovations with reasonable rates of success

Future Perspective:
Driving force behind the need for capacity building

The stem cell market is slated to become $88.3 billion by 2015 (The Hindu Business line), with growth of well over 14.8% from now till then(The Market financial), Growth rate in India will be 35-60%

Regenerative medicine will be a separate branch of modern medicine which will focus on incurable, chronic diseases which form up to 70 percent of disease burden. The potential is thus unlimited.

Initial experiences show potential efficacy of SC in addressing the above needs

Sooner or later almost all Pharma and Biotech companies will jump in the bandwagon. India: An innovation partner to the world

It is estimated that technically trained man power of more than 75000 professionals will be required in India by 2015

SC banking (cryobanking) for various type of stem cells is already rampant and all clients will require/use those stored stem cells in next 21 years

India has presumablythe highest level of regulatory frame work which is attracting oversees investment in this area of stem cells

India is sought as second runner-up in obtaining Biotech manufacturing contract and research after China

Stem cell tourism may be considered both a threat and an opportunity to address issues related to potential use of stem cell transplant in various critical applications in particular Mesenchymal stem cells.