Stem Cell-Based Medicine: Current Advances and Future Applications

  • Continuing Education
Stem cells.

Available between May 27, 2025 – May 26, 2026

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  • Online; Self-Paced

This course is offered on demand and participants progress through the materials at their own pace.

This course is offered for free (non-CE credit). For CE credits, see pricing see below.
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Continuing Education Credits

Earn up to: 
2.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™
2.25 ANCC contact hours
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Please view the Outline for a full description of the program.

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Overview

This intensive course, developed by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), offers a comprehensive exploration of key topics in stem cell medicine. Designed for clinicians, medical students, and health care professionals, the curriculum is structured into seven modules providing an overview of the field, from basic stem cell biology and clinical trials to ethical considerations surrounding unproven stem cell interventions and patient communication.

Through expert-led lectures, this course equips health care providers with the knowledge needed to guide patients toward informed, evidence-based decisions while protecting them from unsafe and unproven treatments. It promotes responsible practices and aims to ensure that clinicians are well-prepared to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by stem cell medicine, ultimately prioritizing patient health and safety.

Stem Cell Medicine: From Scientific Research to Patient Care is offered in two registration pathways:

  1. Free Access - Learners may enroll at no cost, but will not be eligible for a certificate of attendance or CE credit.
  2. Paid Access - Learners may pay tuition and upon completion of the course evaluation, will be eligible for a certificate of attendance or CE credit. 

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the fundamental principles of stem cell biology to lay a foundation for comprehending of stem cell research, clinical trials, and treatments.
  • Explain how stem cell research, clinical trials, and treatments integrate into current standard-of-care treatment plans.
  • Develop effective patient-physician communication skills using practical tools to educate and engage patients about stem cell treatments, including their benefits, limitations, alternatives, and associated risks.

Developed and Offered By:

  • ISSCR logo

This activity is jointly provided by Harvard Medical School and the International Society for Stem Cell Research.

Participant Types

Primary Care Physicians, Specialty Physicians, and Nurses.

Schedule

Outline

Module 0: Introduction

Eugenia Piddini; Jaime Imitola; Kendra Prutton

Module 1: Stem Cells: Intrinsic Properties and Function in Tissue

Kathryn Cheah; Sally Lowell

Module 2: Approved, Investigational, and Unproven Treatments

William J. Anderson; Eugenia Piddini

Module 3: Preclinical Research for Stem Cell Medicine

Kathryn Jones; Elisa Giacomelli

Module 4: Developing Clinical-Grade Stem Cell Products and Manufacturing Processes

Cecile Terrenoire; Mohamed Abou-el-Enein

Module 5: Stem Cell Therapy Clinical Trial Design and Market Approval

Graziella Pellegrini; Roger Barker; Hideyuki Okano

Module 6: Ethical Considerations in Unproven Stem Cell Interventions

Zubin Master; Jaime Imitola; Anna Couturier

Module 7: Patient Communication in Stem Cell Medicine

Insoo Hyun; Carolyn Sangokoya; Jaime Imitola

Module 8: Knowledge Check Questions

Faculty

Harvard Medical School Continuing Education attracts the best and brightest faculty from all around the world. As a student in this course, you’ll have access to outstanding course directors and faculty.

Mohamed Abou-el-Enein, MD, PhD, MSPH
Keck School of Medicine of USC, USA

William J. Anderson, PhD
Harvard University, USA

Roger Barker, MD, PhD
University of Cambridge, UK

Kathryn Cheah, PhD
The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Anna Couturier, PhD
EuroGCT, UK

Denise DeVilla, RN, BSN
International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), USA

Elisa Giacomelli, PhD
Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, USA

Insoo Hyun, PhD
Center for Bioethics, Harvard Medical School, USA

Jaime Imitola, MD, FAAN
University of Connecticut, USA
Vice-chair, ISSCR Education Committee

Kathryn Jones, PhD
University of Auckland, New Zealand

Sally Lowell, PhD
MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, UK

Zubin Master, PhD
Wake Forest University School of Medicine, USA

Hideyuki Okano, MD, PhD
Keio University School of Medicine, Japan

Graziella Pellegrini, PhD
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Centro Medicina Rigenerativa, Italy

Eugenia Piddini, PhD, FMedSci
University of Bristol, UK
Chair, ISSCR Education Committee

Kendra Prutton, PhD
International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), USA

Carolyn Sangokoya, MD, PhD
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), USA

Cecile Terrenoire, PhD
The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, USA

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Course Fees

Fee Disclaimer

Learners can register through our online platform with one of two registration pathways: 

Free Access - Learners may enroll at no cost, but will not be eligible for a certificate of attendance or CE credit.

Paid Access - Learners may pay a $15 fee and upon completing the course evaluation, will be eligible for a certificate of attendance or CE credit.  

All Learners will receive a confirmation email once registration is complete, followed by a second email inviting the learner to activate their HMS MyLearn account to begin the course. 

Review the cancellation policy.

Role Standard Price
Physician (MD/DO) Free
Nurse (RN/APRN) Free
PA Free
Allied Health Professional / Other Free

Learners may pay a $15 fee and upon completing the course evaluation, will be eligible for a certificate of attendance or CE credit.

Register for CE Credits

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, Harvard Medical School is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

The Harvard Medical School designates this enduring material for a maximum of 2.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Harvard Medical School designates this enduring material for a maximum of 2.25 ANCC contact hours.

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the European Union of Medical Specialties website.

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.

Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following Institute of Medicine Core Competencies:

  • Provide Patient-Centered Care
  • Employ Evidence-Based Practice

This course is designed to meet the following American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) / Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educational (ACGME) competencies:

  • Medical Knowledge
  • Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Dislcaimer & Disclosure

CME activities accredited by Harvard Medical School are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of certification of competency. Practitioners should always consult additional sources of information and exercise their best professional judgment before making clinical decisions of any kind.

Note: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ is calculated based on submission of a preliminary agenda and may be subject to change.

In accord with the disclosure policy of the Medical School as well as standards set forth by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), course planners, speakers, and content reviewers have been asked to disclose any relationships they have to companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. In addition, faculty have been asked to list any off-label uses of pharmaceuticals and/or devices for investigational or non-FDA approved purposes that they plan to discuss.

The ISSCR disclaims that registration for, participation in, or completion of any portion of this course—including the receipt of a certificate of attendance or continuing education (CE) credits—implies clinical competency, endorsement, or professional qualification.

Registration for courses managed by Harvard Medical School can only be completed through Harvard Medical School’s official registration portal: cmeregistration.hms.harvard.edu. Attendee registrations made through any other sites cannot be honored and will not be refunded. Please report any unauthorized websites or solicitations for registrations.

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