Kyoto University has announced that it will start providing human embryonic stem cells (ES cells) by July 2018 to universities and companies within Japan for clinical trial applications. This is a world-first, as most countries have been hesitant to support wide-spread production and distribution of this controversial cell type.

Previously Japan limited the use of human embryonic stem cells to basic research, because the cells are produced from human embryos, making them a highly controversial cell type. In 2014, the Japanese government revised it guidelines, making possible the use human ES cells in clinical studies, as well as laboratory research. [Read more…]