What can we learn from this book?

As an introduction to this book on stem cell therapies, this chapter presents the rationale for preparing this volume and describes its key features. A brief historical overview is presented, describing some useful observations from the past to provide context and help us to overcome some of the current obstacles toward clinical translation. We attempt to clarify some of the confusion regarding terminology in the field (e.g., the term “mesenchymal stem cells”), as well as raise some specific questions/issues that we believe have hindered efforts in achieving effective stem cell-based therapies. The hope is that this volume will foster more critical thinking and generate robust discussion among basic and social scientists and clinicians, which may help us identify new solutions for navigating the roadblocks that continue to impede the translation of MSC-based therapies to the clinic.