Acronyms and Abbreviations

AABB

American Association for Blood Banks

ACTO

Asian Cellular Therapy Organisation

AJS

All Japan System

AMD

age-related macular degeneration

AMED

Agency for Medical Research Development

ARM

Alliance for Regenerative Medicine

ASEAN

Association of Southeast Asian Nations

ATMP

advanced therapy medicinal productsBM-MSC-s bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells

CD

Crohn’s disease

CDB

Centre for Developmental Biology

CFDA

China Food and Drug Administration

CGTs

cell and gene therapies

CiRA

Centre for iPS cell Research and Application

CITIC

China International Trust and Investment Corporation

CPC

Cell Processing Centre

CU

Chulalongkorn University

DBT

Department of Biotechnology (India)

DM

diabetes mellitus

DMD

Duchenne muscular dystrophy

DN

dopamine neurons

EMA

European Medicines Agency

FBRI

Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation

FIRM

Forum for Innovative Regenerative Medicine

FTCM

free-to-choose medicine

GCTP

good gene, cell and tissue practice

GLP

good laboratory practice

GMP

good manufacturing practice

GvHD

graft versus host disease

HE

hospital exemption

hESC

human embryonic stem cell(s)

HICs

high-income countries

HLA

human leukocyte antigens

HOs

health organisations

HSCs

hematopoietic stem cells

IANR

International Association of Neurorestoratology

ICMR

Indian Council for Medical Research

ICMS

International Cellular Medicine Society

ICSI

International Stem Cell Initiative

IFMS

Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences

IHOs

international health organisations

IND

investigational new drug

IPR

intellectual property rights

iPSCs

induced pluripotent stem cells

IRB

institutional review board

ISCBI

International Stem Cell Banking Initiative

ISCT

International Society for Cell Therapy

ISSCR

International Society for Stem Cell Research

JSRM

Japanese Society of Regenerative Medicine

JST

Japan Science and Technology Agency

KFDA

Korean Food and Drugs Administration

KHI

Kawasaki Heavy Industry (Japan)

KUH

Kyoto University Hospital (Japan)

LMICs

low- and middle-income countries

MAPPs

Medicines Adaptive Pathways to Patients (EMA)

MCT

Medical Council of Thailand

MD

muscular dystrophy

MEMG

Manipal Education and Medical Group (India)

METI

Ministry for Economy, Trade and Industry (Japan)

MEXT

Ministry for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan)

MHA

minor histocompatibility antigen

MHC

major histocompatibility complex

MITI

Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Japan)

MoHLW

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan)

MOU

memorandum of understanding

MSCs

mesenchymal stem cells

NAC

National Apex Committee (India)

NEDO

New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (Japan)

NGOs

non-governmental organisations

NHFPC

National Health and Family Planning Commission (PRC)

NHS

National Health Service (UK)

NIH

National Institutes of Health

NPOs

non-political organisations

OA

osteoarthritis

ODD

Orphan Drug Designation

PD

Parkinson’s disease

PIM

Promising Innovative Medicine (UK)

PMD Act

Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, and other therapeutic products Act (Japan)

PMDA

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (Japan)

PRC

People’s Republic of China

PSCs

pluripotent stem cells

R&D

research and development

RCT

randomised control trials

REGROW Act

Act named Reliable and Effective Growth for Regenerative Health Options that Improve Wellness (US)

RM Act

Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine (Japan)

RMP Act

Regenerative Medicine Promotion Act (Japan)

RPE

retinal pigment epithelium

SCI

spinal cord injury

SCI-Net

Stem Cell International-Net (US based)

SCNT

somatic cell nuclear transfer

STS

science and technology studies

TFDA

Thai Food and Drug Administration

TPA

Thai Physician Association

WHO

World Health Organization

WPI

World Premier International Research Centre Initiative