In this guide
Key takeaways
- The ISSCR says very few stem cell treatments are proven. Blood stem cell transplants are the best established, followed by certain tissue grafts for bone, skin and the cornea.
- Tissue-specific stem cells mostly make cells of their own tissue. A single product claimed to treat many unrelated diseases deserves extreme caution.
- “Your own cells” doesn't automatically mean safe. Collecting, processing and injecting cells all carry risk.
- Testimonials can't separate real effects from placebo, other treatments or natural ups and downs. Only well-designed trials can.
- Selling an experimental treatment isn't a clinical trial, even when it's described as research.
When you research stem cell treatment, nearly everything you read comes from someone with a stake in it. Clinics want to sell it, critics want to warn you off, and forums are full of strong opinions. The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) is the main professional organization for scientists who work in the field. It's about as close to a neutral expert voice as you'll find. Its patient site, aboutstemcells.org (formerly “A Closer Look at Stem Cells”), is the resource we recommend most often. This guide translates its main points and shows how to apply them.
Why this guidance is worth your time
The ISSCR's position isn't that stem cells are hype. Its members are the people building the field, and they want it to succeed. Their concern is that unproven treatments can harm patients, cost them money and opportunities, and damage trust in legitimate research. Its patient material is written to help you make your own decision, not to make it for you. It repeatedly encourages patients to weigh risks and benefits with their family and their healthcare team.
The site is organized around the questions patients actually ask: what a stem cell treatment is, which ones are approved, how to think about unproven offers, and how to approach clinical trials. It also links to a free online course, Stem Cell Medicine: From Scientific Research to Patient Care, which covers how to talk with your doctor about these options. None of it is a sales funnel. There's no clinic to book and nothing to buy, which is rare in this field.
That makes it a useful counterweight. When a clinic's claim and the ISSCR's guidance point in different directions, it's fair to ask the clinic to explain why.
What counts as proven today
According to the ISSCR's page on stem cell treatments, the established uses are narrow:
| Use | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blood stem cell transplantation | Established | Used for more than 50 years for certain blood and immune disorders, bone marrow failure and some inherited metabolic diseases. Cells come from bone marrow, circulating blood or cord blood. |
| Tissue grafts (some bone, skin and corneal injuries) | Widely accepted | Healing depends on stem cells within the transplanted tissue. |
| Corneal repair with eye stem cells | Approved in Europe | A European Medicines Agency–approved treatment restores sight after certain corneal injuries. |
| Everything else | Experimental | Including most orthopedic, neurological, autoimmune and anti-aging uses. These stay experimental until clinical trials show safety and benefit. |
This lines up with the FDA's list. Every stem cell product the FDA has approved targets blood or immune disorders. See our breakdown of the FDA's approved products. “Experimental” doesn't mean worthless. Some experimental uses have encouraging early data, and our condition-by-condition realistic expectations guide covers where that's true. It means the question hasn't been answered yet.
The nine things to know, translated
The heart of the ISSCR's patient guidance is its list of nine things to know about stem cell treatments. Here's each point in plain English, with what it means when you're reading a clinic's website.
- Very few treatments are provenOutside blood stem cell transplants and some tissue grafts, uses are experimental. On a clinic site: treat “proven,” “clinically proven” or “cure” as claims to verify, not facts.
- You may have more to lose than moneyAn unproven treatment can cause new problems, make your condition harder to manage, or rule you out of future trials. Insurance usually won't pay, and travel adds costs and time away from family. On a clinic site: look for an honest discussion of these trade-offs.
- Different stem cells do different jobsBlood-forming cells make blood, and brain stem cells make brain cells. Without lab manipulation, tissue-specific cells stay in their lane. On a clinic site: be cautious when cells from one tissue are offered for an unrelated organ.
- One treatment rarely fits many diseasesThe ISSCR urges extreme caution with clinics offering one product for many conditions, or claiming cells “know” where to go. On a clinic site: a long menu of unrelated conditions with the same product is a red flag.
- The treatment should fit the diseaseUnderstanding your condition's biology is one of your best defenses. A blood-forming transplant makes sense for some blood cancers, not for diabetes. On a clinic site: ask how, specifically, the cells are supposed to act on your condition.
- Your own cells aren't automatically safeCollecting, growing and reinjecting cells can introduce contamination or change how cells behave. Placement matters too. On a clinic site: “autologous, so no risk” is a warning sign, not a reassurance.
- Testimonials can misleadFeeling better can come from expectation, other treatments, lifestyle changes or natural fluctuation. Only controlled trials can measure benefit. On a clinic site: stories and videos aren't evidence.
- Selling an experimental treatment isn't a trialReal trials have ethics oversight, a registry listing, a defined question, usually a control group, and no charge for the experimental product. On a clinic site: “our study” or “our protocol” needs a registry number. See how to look up a trial.
- Science is slow on purposePromising lab results often fail in animals or people. Replication and peer review exist to reduce harm. On a clinic site: be wary of anyone who presents skipping that process as an advantage.
Applying it to a real sales pitch
Here's how the guidance holds up against common lines in stem cell marketing. These are typical phrasings, not quotes from any particular clinic.
| What you might read | What the ISSCR's guidance suggests asking |
|---|---|
| “Our cells home in on damage anywhere in the body.” | What published evidence shows these cells reach and act on my specific tissue? (Points 3–5) |
| “We treat arthritis, autism, COPD, MS and aging.” | Why would one product work across unrelated diseases? (Point 4) |
| “They're your own cells, so there's no risk.” | How are the cells processed, tested and placed, and what complications have you seen? (Point 6) |
| “Thousands of happy patients.” | Where are the controlled results? Do you track outcomes for every patient, including those who didn't improve? (Point 7) |
| “Join our research program.” | What's the registry number, who is the ethics committee, and why am I paying? (Point 8) |
A trustworthy clinic answers these questions directly. It says when evidence is limited, explains what it measures, and tells some patients they aren't good candidates. Our piece on who clinics should turn away covers what that looks like.
What the guidance doesn't say
It's worth being fair about the limits too. The ISSCR's patient material doesn't say every clinic outside a trial is fraudulent, and it doesn't forbid adults from choosing experimental care. On its page about unproven treatments, it separates three categories. Approved treatments have passed formal trials. Investigational treatments are being tested in regulated trials. Unproven treatments have skipped that review. It notes that “experimental” doesn't automatically mean a treatment is part of a study.
Its practical advice is to discuss any treatment with a physician who knows your situation and can look at it critically, and to read any consent form carefully. That fits the approach this site takes. If you're considering treatment in Colombia, go in with clear eyes about the evidence for your condition, a provider who's honest about uncertainty, and a plan for follow-up at home. Our science vs. hype mission statement explains how we cover this.
A five-minute self-check before you book
Before you send a deposit, run through these questions. If you can't answer most of them, you aren't ready to decide.
- Can I explain, in one sentence, how this treatment is supposed to work on my condition?
- Do I know whether the use is approved, being tested in trials, or unproven?
- Have I seen controlled trial results, not just testimonials, for this use?
- Do I know the exact product, its source and the lab that makes it?
- Has the clinic explained the risks in writing, including risks specific to the route (IV, joint, spine)?
- Could this treatment affect my eligibility for future trials or other options?
- Has a doctor who doesn't profit from the treatment reviewed the plan? (See why a second opinion matters.)
- Do I have a plan if something goes wrong after I fly home? (See what to do about a bad reaction.)
The ISSCR also offers a downloadable Patient Handbook that's worth printing and bringing to consultations.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ISSCR?
The International Society for Stem Cell Research is the main professional organization for stem cell scientists. It publishes research guidelines and runs a patient education site, aboutstemcells.org, formerly called A Closer Look at Stem Cells.
Which stem cell treatments does the ISSCR consider proven?
Blood stem cell transplantation for certain blood and immune disorders is the best established. Tissue grafts for some bone, skin and corneal injuries are widely accepted, and a corneal stem cell treatment is approved in Europe. Other uses are considered experimental until trials prove them.
Does the ISSCR say all stem cell clinics are scams?
No. It separates approved, investigational and unproven treatments, warns about specific red flags, and encourages patients to weigh risks and benefits with a physician who knows their situation.
Are treatments using my own cells safer?
Not automatically. The ISSCR notes that collecting, processing and reinjecting your own cells can introduce contamination or change how the cells behave, and that where cells are placed also matters.
Why aren't patient testimonials good evidence?
Improvement after treatment can come from expectation, other therapies, lifestyle changes or natural ups and downs in a condition. Only well-designed trials with comparison groups can tell whether the treatment itself caused the change.
Want to apply this to your own situation?
Tell us your condition and what you've been offered. We'll talk through your options honestly, including when the evidence suggests waiting, a trial or a different treatment.
Talk through your options →Sources
- Nine Things to Know About Stem Cell Treatments — International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
- Stem Cell Treatments — International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
- Unproven Stem Cell “Treatments” — International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
- A Closer Look at Stem Cells / About Stem Cells (patient resource home) — International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
- Consumer Alert on Regenerative Medicine Products Including Stem Cells and Exosomes — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
This article is general information, not medical advice, and it does not replace an evaluation by a licensed physician who knows your history. Most stem cell treatments discussed on this site are not approved by the FDA or proven in completed clinical trials for the conditions they are marketed for; outcomes are not guaranteed and risks are real. Regulations and registry tools change, so confirm details with the official sources linked above. Colombia Stem Cell Treatment is an independent information site, not a clinic. If you ask us to, we may share your inquiry with providers, who may compensate our network for introductions; see our terms for details. No affiliate links appear in this article.