Guidelines for the Field of Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine

As a service to the field, the ISSCR develops guidelines that address the international diversity of cultural, political, legal, and ethical issues associated with stem cell research and its translation to medicine. The guidelines maintain and underscore widely shared principles in science that call for rigor, oversight, and transparency in all areas of practice. Adherence to these principles provides assurance that stem cell research is conducted with scientific and ethical integrity and that new therapies are evidence-based.

Responding to advances in science, the guidelines were updated in 2021 to encompass a broader and more expansive scope of research and clinical endeavor while maintaining the fundamental principles of the research and application. The 2021 guidelines include new recommendations to address the recent scientific advances involving embryos, stem cell-based embryo models, chimeras, organoids, and genome editing.

Accessing the 2021 ISSCR Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation update, online or PDF file:

Use the Table of Contents on the left to navigate to each main section of the updated ISSCR Guidelines;

Visit the Key Topics, which are intended to assemble areas of the ISSCR Guidelines update related to the topic onto one page; and

On the top left of this page, you can download a clickable PDF in English or German.

For more context, refer to the following papers written by members off the 2021 ISSCR Guidelines Steering Committee and additional resources:

“Why stem cell guidelines needed an update: New criteria aim to reassure the public to permit progress in contentious research,” by Lovell-Badge (Nature)

“ISSCR Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation: The 2021 Update,” by Lovell-Badge et al., ISSCR Guidelines Taskforce (Stem Cell Reports)

“Human Embryo Research, Stem Cell-derived Embryo Models and In Vitro Gametogenesis: Considerations Leading to the Revised ISSCR Guidelines,” Clark et al., (Stem Cell Reports)

“ISSCR Guidelines for the Transfer of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells and Their Direct Derivatives into Animal Hosts,” by Hyun et al. (Stem Cell Reports)

“ISSCR’s Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation: Supporting the Development of Safe and Efficacious Stem Cell-Based Interventions,” by Turner (Stem Cell Reports)

"New Guidelines for Stem Cell and Embryo Research from the ISSCR," by Anthony et al. (Cell Stem Cell)

"ISSCR Guidelines Uphold Human Right to Science for Benefit of All," by Robin Lovell-Badge, Zubin Master, and Bartha Knoppers (Nature)

Consider attending the ISSCR 2021 Annual Meeting 21-26 June (virtually). This year's meeting kicks off with a special session updating attendees discussing recommendations in the ISSCR Guidelines update members of the task force. 

ISSCR's Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation are strictly copyrighted by the society. Contact isscr@isscr.org for more information.