Distinguishing Hype from Hope: The Critical Role of Clinicians in Stem Cell Medicine
The field of stem cell medicine is at a defining moment—brimming with potential, but also complicated by hype, misconceptions, and, in some cases, significant risk for patients. For health care professionals, especially clinicians, keeping pace with advances is essential.
I spoke with three experts behind Stem Cell Medicine: From Scientific Research to Patient Care, an innovative online course from Harvard Medical School and the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR). Their insights underscore the importance of clinicians being well-informed in this rapidly evolving field.
A Rapidly Moving Landscape
“Stem cell research is one of the most exciting fields in medicine right now,” says Kendra Prutton, PhD, MPS, ISSCR’s science communications and education manager. She notes clinical trials in Parkinson’s disease and diabetes are beginning to show real progress. Importantly, stem cell science impacts more than cell therapies. “Stem cell research really influences every area of medicine, from drug discovery and disease modeling to developmental biology,” she explains.
William J. Anderson, PhD, director of education and senior lecturer in the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard, underscores the momentum. “There have been a lot of wonderful advances that have already made their way to improved therapies.” He points to the approval of a CRISPR-edited hematopoietic stem cell therapy for sickle cell disease as “transformative,” with investigational treatments for type 1 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease showing potential.
Keeping Current and Serving Patients
Advances in stem cell medicine create a dual imperative for clinicians: stay current and practice evidence-based medicine.
“The field moves so quickly,” says Kathryn Jones, PhD, deputy head for the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland. “Clinicians need to understand the different types of stem cell therapies, where the research stands, and the differences between what is approved, what is experimental, and what is being marketed and sold directly to consumers.”
She notes the challenge of differentiating investigational treatments in registered clinical trials from unregulated products marketed online. “Direct-to-consumer marketing makes some stem cell products appear legitimate, when in fact, many are experimental, unregistered, or not proven safe or effective,” Jones warns. “It’s really important for clinicians to be able to recognize these differences, so they can help patients make informed decisions.”
Addressing Misconceptions
Patients may encounter claims that a single stem cell therapy can treat a range of conditions or that unregulated therapies are risk-free. “Stem cells generate specific cell populations, often requiring precise environmental factors—there’s nothing ‘one-size-fits-all’ about it,” says Jones. Both she and Anderson warn against unproven treatments. “Sadly, there exist so-called therapies that are unproven, unregulated, and unsupported by scientific evidence. Patients, in their desperation, are vulnerable to misleading claims,” Anderson notes.
Some patients have suffered physical harm, financial loss, or worse after pursuing unproven therapies. Jones points to cases of permanent injury, blindness, or rare complications such as cells growing in unintended tissues.
Prutton adds, “It can be difficult for patients to separate fact from fiction. When a trusted clinician explains what’s approved, what’s experimental, and the risks involved, it empowers the patient to make a safer, more informed health decision.”
The Power of Informed Clinicians
Health care providers are often the bridge between the potential of new therapies and patient reality. “Informed clinicians are uniquely positioned to help patients distinguish misinformation from real hope,” Prutton says. “Treatment decisions can come down to who patients listen to: a for-profit clinic presenting itself as a ‘stem cell doctor’ trying to sell them a treatment, versus a trusted clinician whose role is to provide evidence-based, safe, and responsible care.”
Anderson adds, “Patients trust their clinician far more than a society website or other online sources. When a doctor is well informed, their guidance may prevent a patient from gravitating toward bad actors or dangerous therapies.” Clinicians can also alert patients to lesser-known risks. For example, an unproven therapy might make a patient ineligible for future legitimate trials or expose them to financial, emotional, or medical harm.
Balancing Evidence with Innovation
Clinicians don’t need to become stem cell scientists, but benefit from understanding developments in the field.
“The care should always be grounded in evidence-based best practices,” says Jones. “At the same time, clinicians should also be able to talk to patients about what’s emerging—without giving false hope, or suggesting a treatment is effective when the evidence just isn’t there yet.”
Prutton says, “Accredited education courses like ours help clinicians distinguish between preclinical potential and clinical readiness. They provide frameworks to understand emerging science and information about legitimate advances, while also acknowledging uncertainty where data is limited.”
Critical Assessment Skills for Clinicians
“With so many demands on their time, it’s exceptionally rare for a clinician to follow the basic science all the way through to the clinic,” Anderson says. “That’s why continuing medical education, or CME courses, are so important.” The course is open-access and covers core stem cell concepts, preclinical research, clinical translation, ethical considerations, and patient communication.
“We teach clinicians to not only be excited about the future of stem cell medicine, but also how to spot red flags in questionable claims, distinguish between approved, experimental, and unproven therapies, and communicate more clearly with patients,” says Prutton.
Jones adds, “Our goal is for clinicians to feel more confident in talking about stem cell therapies and the options with their patients, so they can recommend the safest and most effective options that lead to better outcomes.”
Building Trust, Protecting Progress
An informed clinician workforce doesn’t just help patients—it protects the credibility of the field. “We need to maintain the public’s trust in doctors and scientists,” Jones says. “If patients are confused about what’s legitimate and what’s not, trust can erode. Well-informed clinicians play a critical role in maintaining that trust.”
Anderson warns that “rogue therapies can cause terrible reputational harm to the field.” The solution? “Having both Harvard Medical School and the ISSCR involved in this course brought a level of legitimacy and global reach we couldn’t have achieved otherwise.”
Evolving Clinician Education
Prutton and her colleagues are expanding the course series with disease-specific modules and ongoing open-access education. “Our mission is patient-first,” Prutton says. “We want these courses to serve not only clinicians, but also patients and the science-interested public—to help combat misinformation.”
Advice for Clinicians
For newcomers: upskill, stay critical, and seek high-quality education.
“Start with trusted, unbiased, evidence-based sources—especially those designed for clinicians,” Prutton says. Jones concurs: “Lean in, upskill, and take courses like the one we have created. There is a huge amount of potential in this field, and it’s important for clinicians to be informed so they can give the best care to their patients.” Anderson adds, “CME courses like this are probably the best first foray—they give clinicians the tools, examples, and frameworks needed for talking with patients and critically assessing the evolving landscape.”