ICMS Publishes Comprehensive Report on Off Shore Stem Cell Clinics
The International Cellular Medicine Society, the only independent adult stem cell association, has published a first of its kind report on Off Shore Stem Cell Clinics. Working with patients and medical professionals, this report provides a unique insight into the practices of these non-US stem cells clinics. The reports looks at what stem cells are being utilized in these clinics, a comparison of costs and an evaluation of the clinical procedures against published best practice guidelines.
Denver, CO, October 02, 2009 --(PR.com)-- The International Cellular Medicine Society (ICMS), the only independent, physician and scientist led adult stem cell education nonprofit organization, announced the publication of a first of its kind report on off shore stem cells clinics. The report provides a summary of cells used, diseases treated and treatments costs of nearly a dozen non-US based stem cells clinics. The report also details the specific procedures, methods and practices of each clinic and evaluates them against the ICMS clinical and lab practice guidelines.
"There are a lot of promises, and no good way to compare apples to apples," said Michael Freeman, PhD, and member of the ICMS board of directors. "It can be confusing for people searching for information about what these clinics offer and how safe or effective these therapies are. Our objective was to present a comprehensive and independent report on what is happening in these off-shore clinics."
The data for the report was compiled by prospective patients seeking care for a variety of medical issues. The patients sought answers ranging from type of stem cell type utilized to implantation methods, from cell culturing procedures to the use of growth hormones. The resulting information was then studied by medical professionals at the ICMS who evaluated the procedures and provided annotations on the methods of the clinics based upon the Society’s published best practices. The initial report, available at www.cellmedicinesociety.org, provides comparative data on eleven clinics and will be amended as new clinics are evaluated.
The publication of this report is important to the educational and awareness mission of the ICMS. “As long as the United States government tries to stand in the way of US stem cell therapies as the practice of medicine, then people will seek treatment overseas,” said Christopher Centeno, MD medical director of the ICMS, “This report gives tremendous insight into the practices of off shore clinics, and provides patients and physicians a resource to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these clinics. Nowhere else is there as comprehensive a collection of procedural, therapeutic and cost data.”
The initial conclusions drawn from this report are telling: The use of allogeneic (3rd party) stem cells, use of ineffective infusion procedures, the lack of transparency and tremendous costs associated with many of these clinics are a real concern. However, there is also a significant portion of clinics using autologous, adult stem cells and adhering to elements of the ICMS best practices. By publishing this report, the ICMS is seeking to educate patients and physicians as well as promote the need for greater transparency and medical professional oversight through the adherence to the ICMS guidelines.
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About the International Cellular Medicine Society
The ICMS is a physician lead 501(c)(3), independent nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of safe and effective adult stem cell therapies. The Society manages a comprehensive re-implantation registry to track the efficacy and long term outcomes of adult stem cell based procedures and therapies, publishes clinical and laboratory guidelines written and reviewed by physicians and researchers that define standards of minimal culture and re-implantation of autologous adult stem cells and provide un-biased patient education to increase awareness of and access to safe stem cell therapies. The society maintains two websites, www.cellmedicinesociety.org that is focused on adult stem cell awareness, education and research and www.stemcelldocs.org that provides a forum for the exchange of ideas between physicians and researchers.
"There are a lot of promises, and no good way to compare apples to apples," said Michael Freeman, PhD, and member of the ICMS board of directors. "It can be confusing for people searching for information about what these clinics offer and how safe or effective these therapies are. Our objective was to present a comprehensive and independent report on what is happening in these off-shore clinics."
The data for the report was compiled by prospective patients seeking care for a variety of medical issues. The patients sought answers ranging from type of stem cell type utilized to implantation methods, from cell culturing procedures to the use of growth hormones. The resulting information was then studied by medical professionals at the ICMS who evaluated the procedures and provided annotations on the methods of the clinics based upon the Society’s published best practices. The initial report, available at www.cellmedicinesociety.org, provides comparative data on eleven clinics and will be amended as new clinics are evaluated.
The publication of this report is important to the educational and awareness mission of the ICMS. “As long as the United States government tries to stand in the way of US stem cell therapies as the practice of medicine, then people will seek treatment overseas,” said Christopher Centeno, MD medical director of the ICMS, “This report gives tremendous insight into the practices of off shore clinics, and provides patients and physicians a resource to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these clinics. Nowhere else is there as comprehensive a collection of procedural, therapeutic and cost data.”
The initial conclusions drawn from this report are telling: The use of allogeneic (3rd party) stem cells, use of ineffective infusion procedures, the lack of transparency and tremendous costs associated with many of these clinics are a real concern. However, there is also a significant portion of clinics using autologous, adult stem cells and adhering to elements of the ICMS best practices. By publishing this report, the ICMS is seeking to educate patients and physicians as well as promote the need for greater transparency and medical professional oversight through the adherence to the ICMS guidelines.
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About the International Cellular Medicine Society
The ICMS is a physician lead 501(c)(3), independent nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of safe and effective adult stem cell therapies. The Society manages a comprehensive re-implantation registry to track the efficacy and long term outcomes of adult stem cell based procedures and therapies, publishes clinical and laboratory guidelines written and reviewed by physicians and researchers that define standards of minimal culture and re-implantation of autologous adult stem cells and provide un-biased patient education to increase awareness of and access to safe stem cell therapies. The society maintains two websites, www.cellmedicinesociety.org that is focused on adult stem cell awareness, education and research and www.stemcelldocs.org that provides a forum for the exchange of ideas between physicians and researchers.
Contact
International Cellular Medicine Society
David Audley
503-884-6590
www.cellemdicinesociety.org
David Audley
503-884-6590
www.cellemdicinesociety.org
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