Demographic Transition, Health Care Challenges, and the Impact of Emerging International Regulatory Trends With Relevance to Regenerative Medicine

Unprecedented demographic trends threaten to have a major impact on the practice of medicine and the application of limited health care resources in the years ahead. As the elderly segment of the population greatly expands globally, the incidence and prevalence of various aging-related diseases and conditions are also expected to substantially increase, while health care resources become progressively strained. This threatens to have an adverse impact on national health care systems and patient quality of life. Regenerative medicine technology has the potential to provide an effective solution for some of these challenges, by enabling new and more effective ways to treat costly and debilitating conditions, particularly in the cardiovascular and neurological areas. Emerging international regulatory trends, some specifically focused on regenerative medicine, could help enable a wave of innovation that could promote the development of more effective solutions that improve clinical care, enhance patient quality of life, and reduce overall health care costs.