Medically reviewed by Prof. Shimon Slavin, MD. Updated: August 2026
Stem cell therapy is a cutting-edge area of medical science focused on restoring damaged body tissues caused by disease, injury, or aging. Central to this approach are mesenchymal stem/stromal stem cells, which can be sourced from various origins including the patient, donors, or placental and umbilical cord tissue of newborns, whether related or unrelated.
The highest concentrations of these MSCs are typically found within placental or umbilical cord tissue, although their abundance decreases with age. In adults MSCs can still be extracted from bone marrow or adipose tissue, albeit in lower amounts.
While historically recognized for their ability to differentiate into bone-forming osteoblasts, cartilage-forming chondroblasts, or adipocytes responsible for fat cell production, more recent research has also highlighted the immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and tissue-supporting properties of MSCs, which are central to their potential use in regenerative medicine.
Which Diseases Can Respond to Stem Cell Therapy?
Mesenchymal stem cell therapy is being investigated and used in selected clinical settings for a range of neurological, autoimmune, inflammatory and degenerative conditions. The potential role of MSC therapy, the available evidence and the expected benefit vary considerably depending on the disease and the individual patient.
In neurology, stem cell therapy offers hope for mitigating damage arising from neuroinflammatory or neurodegenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, dementia, autism, and Parkinson’s disease. Preclinical and pilot clinical studies indicate promise in using MSCs to enhance nervous system function post-stroke or spinal cord injury, primarily by facilitating remyelination, a crucial process for nerve impulse transmission. Stem cells’ anti-inflammatory properties not only aid in neuronal structure restoration but also regulate autoimmune responses.
Orthopedic surgeons frequently employ MSCs to address joint and ligament damage, facilitate bone fracture healing. MSCs are even used for bone regeneration, via advanced techniques such as 3D-printed templates. Furthermore, MSCs may be able to combat diabetes-related inflammation and complications, including atherosclerosis and vascular disorders.
Beyond their regenerative abilities, MSCs demonstrate significant anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects, useful in treating skin scarring and fibrosis, as observed in conditions such as liver cirrhosis. With their wide-ranging therapeutic potential, MSC-based treatments offer avenues for managing inflammatory, degenerative, autoimmune conditions, and fibrosis-related disorders.
Conditions We Evaluate for MSC Therapy
Neurological Disorders
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment with Stem Cells
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Treatment with Stem Cells
Stroke Treatment with Stem Cells
Parkinson’s Disease Treatment with Stem Cells
Autism Spectrum and Asperger’s Syndrome Treatment with Stem Cells
Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment with Stem Cells
Autoimmune Disorders
Crohn’s Disease Treatment with Stem Cells
Ulcerative Colitis Treatment with Stem Cells
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Treatment with Stem Cells
Vitiligo Treatment with Stem Cells
Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes Treatment with Stem Cells
Other Disorders
Spinal Cord Injury Treatment with Stem Cells
Kidney Disorders Treatment with Stem Cells
Vascular Disorders Treatment with Stem Cells
Liver Disorders Treatment with Stem Cells
Is Stem Cell Therapy with MSCs Safe?
MSC therapy has been studied in a wide range of clinical settings and has generally demonstrated a favorable safety profile when appropriately sourced, processed and administered. However, as with any cell-based treatment, potential risks depend on the source and preparation of the cells, route of administration and the individual patient’s medical condition.
Biotherapy International does not use embryonic stem cells. Each patient is medically evaluated before treatment, and the type of MSC therapy and route of administration are selected individually.
Supporting Therapies Used with Stem Cell Treatment
At Biotherapy International, stem cell treatment may be combined with supportive non-invasive therapies designed to enhance the overall regenerative treatment strategy. Depending on the individual protocol, these methods may be used alongside stem cell therapy to support tissue stimulation, circulation, and the local biological environment.
The technologies used may include Low-level Laser Light Therapy, Acoustic Shockwave Therapy (AST), and Deep Transmagnetic Stimulation (dTMS). These methods are selected individually according to the patient’s condition and treatment goals.
Legislative Considerations in Stem Cell Therapy
The regulation of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy varies considerably between countries and depends on factors such as the source of the cells, the degree of manipulation, their intended use, and the clinical indication. Regulatory approaches in the United States, Europe, Israel, and other countries therefore differ, and the status of a particular MSC-based treatment must be considered within the relevant national framework.
In the United States, many cell-based therapies are regulated by the FDA as biological products. In December 2024, the FDA approved Ryoncil, the first mesenchymal stromal cell therapy in the US, for steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease in pediatric patients. This approval applies to this specific indication and does not constitute general approval of MSC therapy for other conditions.
In the European Union, certain stem cell-based therapies are classified as Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) and are subject to requirements concerning manufacturing, quality, safety, and clinical evaluation. The regulatory pathway depends on how the cells are processed and used, and additional national requirements may also apply.
These differences reflect the complexity of cell therapy. MSC preparations may vary by cell source, manufacturing and expansion methods, dose, route of administration, and intended clinical use. For this reason, MSC therapies cannot be evaluated as a single uniform treatment.
Biotherapy International considers MSC-based therapy individually and provides treatment through partner medical centers where the proposed procedures can be performed in accordance with applicable local regulations.
Scientific Experience with Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Professor Shimon Slavin has been involved in clinical and experimental research on mesenchymal stem cells and regenerative cell therapy for many years. Selected peer-reviewed publications include:
1) Methods, systems and compositions for neuronal differentiation of multipotent stem cells.
This therapy was designed to replace missing or damaged cells and tissues of the nervous system and restore its functions. Multipotent neural stem cells could be used in various degenerative and inflammatory diseases of the nervous system, including spinal cord injuries and stroke.
https://patents.justia.com/patent/10421961
2) MicroRNA for the generation of astrocytes
This is a method to create a population of astrocytes (auxiliary tissue of the brain) that can be used to treat certain brain disorders. Astrocytes are star-shaped glial cells found around neurons and in the areas of contact between two neurons. This type of cell transfers nutrients from the blood to the neurons and is key to the functioning of the brain.
https://patents.justia.com/patent/10034902
3) Generation of neural stem cells and motor neurons A
This is a method to create neural stem cells or motor neurons. Motor neurons in the spinal cord, which innervate skeletal muscle, originate from neuroepithelial cells in the developing spinal cord. These motor neurons cannot renew, so any loss or degeneration usually causes fatal or irreversible neurological conditions, including paralysis or disorders such as childhood spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in adults.
The method is used to treat a variety of neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, spinal cord injury, and stroke.
https://patents.justia.com/patent/9803175
4) Methods for obtaining oligodendrocytes and their cell populations
Oligodendrocytes are a type of auxiliary cells in the nervous tissue that produce myelin. Myelin is used to create the myelin sheath that insulates neurons. As such, oligodendrocytes are the cells required to treat diseases like multiple sclerosis which arise from demyelinating lesions in the central nervous system.
https://patents.justia.com/patent/9783781
5) Mesenchymal stem cells for vitro modeling and cell-based therapy of human diseases and banks thereof
A method of qualifying a mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) population being associated with a brain disease.
US patent number US2015/0024966A1
Our Publications
- Karussis D, Grigoriadis S, Polyzoidou E, Grigoriadis N, Slavin S, Abramsky O. Neuroprotection in multiple sclerosis. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2006 Mar;108(3):250-4.
- Prigozhina TB, Khitrin S, Elkin G, Eizik O, Morecki S, Slavin S. Mesenchymal stromal cells lose their immunosuppressive potential after allotransplantation. Exp Hematol. 2008 Oct;36(10):1370-6.
- Slavin S, Kurkalli BG, Karussis D. The potential use of adult stem cells for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative disorders. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2008 Nov;110(9):943-6.
- Karussis D, Kassis I, Kurkalli BG, Slavin S. Immunomodulation and neuroprotection with mesenchymal bone marrow stem cells (MSCs): a proposed treatment for multiple sclerosis and other neuroimmunological/neurodegenerative diseases. J Neurol Sci. 2008 Feb 15;265(1-2):131-5.
- Kassis I, Grigoriadis N, Gowda-Kurkalli B, Mizrachi-Kol R, Ben-Hur R, Slavin S, Abramsky O, Karussis D. Neuroprotection and immunomodulation with mesenchymal stem cells in chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Arch Neurol. 2008;65(6):753-761.
- Gurevitch O, Slavin S, Resnick I, Khitrin S, Feldman A. Mesenchymal progenitor cells in red and yellow bone marrow. Folia Biol (Praha). 2009;55(1):27-34.
- Karussis D, Karageorgiou C, Vaknin-Dembinsky A, Gowda-Kurkalli B, Gomori JM, Kassis I, Bulte JW, Petrou P, Ben-Hur T, Abramsky O, Slavin S. Safety and immunological effects of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in patients with multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Arch Neurol. 2010 Oct;67(10):1187-94.
- Freedman MS, Bar-Or A, Atkins HL, Karussis D, Frassoni F, Lazarus H, Scolding N, Slavin S, Le Blanc K, Uccelli A. The therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation as a treatment for multiple sclerosis: consensus report of the International MSCT Study Group. Mult Scler. 2010 Apr;16(4):503-10.
- Tichon A, Eitan E, Kurkalli BG, Braiman A, Gazit A, Slavin S, Beith-Yannai E, Priel E. Oxidative stress protection by novel telomerase activators in mesenchymal stem cells derived from healthy and diseased individuals. Curr Mol Med. 2013 Jul;13(6):1010-22.
- Kazimirsky G, Jiang W, Slavin S, Ziv-Av A, Brodie C. Mesenchymal stem cells enhance the oncolytic effect of Newcastle disease virus in glioma cells and glioma stem cells via the secretion of TRAIL. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2016 Oct 10;7(1):149.
MSC Therapy at Biotherapy International
At Biotherapy International, the possibility of MSC therapy is evaluated individually based on the patient’s diagnosis, medical history, previous treatments and current condition.
Before treatment, the patient’s medical records are reviewed and an online consultation is held with Professor Shimon Slavin. If MSC therapy is considered appropriate, Professor Slavin develops an individual treatment protocol. Treatment is then performed by the medical team at a partner clinic according to the prescribed protocol.
