ESC Seed Cell Resource Bank

Abstract

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) play a critical role in advancing regenerative medicine, with significant potential in tissue engineering, disease modeling, and cell-based therapies. Following the derivation of the first hESC line and subsequent breakthroughs in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, global efforts have accelerated the progress of stem cell research and clinical applications. The development of high-standard stem cell banks worldwide has ensured the traceability, quality, and accessibility of these critical resources, enabling their safe translation to clinical use. The National Stem Cell Resource Center (NSCRC) advances the efforts in arranging and optimizing stem cell resources to support research and clinical needs. Through rigorous quality control system construction and encouraging innovation, the NSCRC has been accredited by ISO 20387 and ISO 17025. Now, the NSCRC has developed a broad spectrum of high-quality stem cell lines, securing independent intellectual property rights. These resources have facilitated clinical research, supported major scientific initiatives, and provided good practice experience for the international standardization of stem cells. Moreover, the focus on integrating organoid resources and establishing intelligent biobanks highlights the frontier correlation of stem cell research, promoting innovation, collaboration, and clinical translation to meet unmet medical needs.

Keywords: Biomedical innovation; Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs); ISO 17025; ISO 20387; National Stem Cell Resource Center; Stem cell and regenerative medicine; Stem cell bank.