Regenerative Medicine: Progressing Toward Cures

What an exciting year in stem cell science and translational medicine! STEM CELLS Translational Medicine (SCTM) and its sister journal, STEM CELLS (www.Stemcells.Com, @StemCellsJournal), with its focus on a better understanding of stem cell function, continued to publish remarkable, groundbreaking findings that are moving the field forward. And, in the regulatory arena, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration began implementing the 21st Century Cures Act, designed to bring new treatments, including regenerative medicine, to patients more quickly and efficiently. Just in the past few months, the agency issued important guidance documents designed to provide a clear pathway to scientists who are developing therapies in the field. The field is now at a tipping point. While the science is relatively new and numerous challenges remain, there has been enough progress to warrant a new focus on how to efficiently and costeffectively bring new treatments to patients. Just as advanced manufacturing changed the face of the auto industry, so must regenerative medicine turn to the practical considerations of producing its products on a mass scale. To ensure that regenerative medicine therapies are one day commonplace, this focus on manufacturing must happen now, even as we grapple with the fields remaining scientific challenges. We are pleased to report that SCTM is taking a leadership role in this arena in collaboration with the Regenerative Medicine Manufacturing Society and the addition of a new section dedicated to this area. Now, in addition to turning to this journal for the latest advances in clinical translational medicine, you also can expect to learn how scientists around the world are advancing regenerative medicine manufacturing. You will see reports of breakthroughs in areas such as: