What are the ethical considerations in stem cell research for diabetes?

Stem cell research for diabetes raises a number of ethical considerations that vary depending on the type of stem cells used and the methods employed. Understanding these considerations is important for researchers, funders, and partners evaluating stem cell programs.

The most historically significant ethical concern in stem cell research has been the use of human embryonic stem cells. Deriving these cells requires the destruction of a human embryo at a very early stage of development, which raises profound ethical questions. This has led to significant regulatory restrictions on embryonic stem cell research in many jurisdictions, and has motivated the scientific community’s move toward induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which avoid this concern entirely.

RMS’s research is built on iPSC technology and does not involve embryonic stem cells. Beyond the embryo question, RMS’s program is designed to address other ethical considerations relevant to cell therapy: patient safety (by designing a therapy that does not require immunosuppressive drugs), accessibility (by prioritizing scalability and affordability), and transparency (by pursuing regulatory approval through rigorous clinical trial processes). RMS’s approach to regenerative medicine is grounded in the principle that scientific ambition and ethical responsibility are not in tension, they are complementary.

Learn about RMS’s commitment to ethical innovation.