Attitude of A Sample of Iranian Researchers toward The Future of Stem Cell Research
Creators: name: Lotfipanah, Mahdi
name: Fereydoon Azadeh
name: Totonchi, Mehdi
name: Omani-Samani, Reza
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2019
Subjects: subject: Stem Cells
subject: 90608 Renewable Power and Energy Systems Engineering (excl. Solar Cells)
subject: FOS: Electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering
subject: FOS: Electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering
subject: Library and Information Studies
subject: FOS: Media and communications
subject: FOS: Media and communications
subject: 100404 Regenerative Medicine (incl. Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering)
subject: FOS: Medical biotechnology
subject: FOS: Medical biotechnology
subject: Cancer
subject: 111203 Cancer Genetics
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine
subject: 111202 Cancer Diagnosis
subject: 111201 Cancer Cell Biology
subject: 110311 Medical Genetics (excl. Cancer Genetics)
subject: FOS: Basic medicine
subject: FOS: Basic medicine
subject: 111204 Cancer Therapy (excl. Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy)
subject: 160202 Correctional Theory, Offender Treatment and Rehabilitation
subject: FOS: Law
subject: FOS: Law

description: Objective: Stem cells that have unlimited proliferation potential as well as differentiation potency are considered to be apromising future treatment method for incurable diseases. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the future trend of stemcell researches from researchers’ viewpoints.Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study on researchers involved in stem cell research atRoyan Institute. We designed a questionnaire using a qualitative study based on expert opinion and a literature review.Content validity was performed using three rounds of the Delphi method with experts. Face validity was undertaken bya Persian literature expert and a graphics designer. The questionnaire was distributed among 150 researchers involvedin stem cell studies in Royan Institute biology laboratories.Results: We collected 138 completed questionnaires. The mean age of participants was 31.13 ± 5.8 years; most(60.9%) were females. Participants (76.1%) considered the budget to be the most important issue in stem cell research,79.7% needed financial support from the government, and 77.5% felt that charities could contribute substantially tostem cell research. A total of 90.6% of participants stated that stem cells should lead to commercial usage whichcould support future researches (86.2%). The aim of stem cell research was stipulated as increasing health statusof the society according to 92.8% of the participants. At present, among cell types, importance was attached to cordblood and adult stem cells. Researchers emphasized the importance of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) rather thanhematopoietic stem cells (HSCs, 57.73%). The prime priorities were given to cancer so that stem cell research couldbe directed to sphere stem cell research whereas the least preference was given to skin research.Conclusion: Regenerative medicine is considered the future of stem cell research with emphasis on application ofthese cells, especially in cancer treatment.