Convergence Science Network event: The promise of stem cell therapies

Associate Professor Megan Munsie, Deputy Director of the University of Melbourne Centre for Stem Cell Systems recently presented at the Convergence Science Network on the promise of stem cell therapies, the danger of untested stem cell therapies and the need for advanced health policies in this area.

Stem cells are a valuable tool to study and treat a range of diseases and injuries. They are used in research to give insights into human development and to test new drugs. Increasingly, researchers are exploring new avenues for stem cells in regenerative medicine to generate new cells and tissues. While they do show a lot of promise, sometimes their potential can be dangerously misrepresented by some medical clinics and the media.

Associate Professor Megan Munsie, Deputy Director of the University of Melbourne Centre for Stem Cell Systems recently presented at the Convergence Science Network on the promise of stem cell therapies, the danger of untested stem cell therapies and the need for advanced health policies in this area.

The event was moderated by Catriona Nguyen-Robertson, a volunteer Science Communications Officer at the Convergence Science Network and a PhD candidate at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.

Megan spoke at length about the rise of clinics selling unproven stem cell treatments, an area she is researching with collaborators Professor Alan Petersen from Monash University and Dr Claire Tanner from the Centre for Stem Cell Systems. These clinics are both in Australia and overseas, and their offered “treatments” are plastered all over the media and advertised online. They are ‘scant on details but high on hope,’ said Megan.

Megan is working hard with academics and clinicians to lobby the Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA) to close regulatory loop holes. They were successful earlier this year: as of July 2019, there is a ban on advertising without evidence and the TGA now regulates any stem cell procedure performed outside a hospital.

Megan invited Dr Christine Walker, a social researcher and CEO of the Chronic Illness Alliance, to speak on her work in improving health policies and services. Christine works to understand the needs of people with chronic illnesses so that their voices can be heard.

Christine is concerned that the vulnerable people suffering chronic illnesses are ‘open to exploitation’ by stem cell therapy clinics. As people who feel as they have no other options, they are given hope when they hear about “miracle cures” in the media. ‘Trust is part of that foundation of hope,’ said Christine. When doctors have diplomas on their walls, patients become less aware that the methods they are practicing are not scientifically sound. Christine therefore calls on tighter regulation to ensure that people’s expectations and trust can be well-founded.

Patients have the right to make their own choices, however Megan and Christine want to empower them to make informed decisions. With tighter regulations and higher awareness in the community, they hope that there will be no loopholes for unsafe treatments to slip through the cracks. Stem cell therapies do hold promise for treating a number of diseases in the future, it is just a matter of ensuring that treatments work and are safe.

[Watch the full event here and read the full event summary here].

Promoting science to the community

The Convergence Science Network plays a fundamental role in communicating science and making scientists accessible to the community. This engagement assists in promoting an awareness and understanding of advances in science and technology, how they are impacting our lives and how they make a valuable contribution to society.

More Information

A/ Prof Megan Munsie

megan.munsie@unimelb.edu.au