Int J Mol Sci . 2019 Dec 13;20(24):6305. doi: 10.3390/ijms20246305.

The Challenge of Bringing iPSCs to the Patient

María Del Carmen Ortuño-Costela  ^{1   2} , Victoria Cerrada  ² , Marta García-López  ² , M Esther Gallardo  ^{2   3}

Abstract

The implementation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in biomedical research more than a decade ago, resulted in a huge leap forward in the highly promising area of personalized medicine. Nowadays, we are even closer to the patient than ever. To date, there are multiple examples of iPSCs applications in clinical trials and drug screening. However, there are still many obstacles to overcome. In this review, we will focus our attention on the advantages of implementing induced pluripotent stem cells technology into the clinics but also commenting on all the current drawbacks that could hinder this promising path towards the patient.