Chapter Four The Establishment of Human Regenerative Medicin

[Editorial comments]:

The establishment of Human Regenerative Medicine is one part of Human Body Regenerative Restoration Science studies.  The concept of Regenerative Medicine refers to using regenerative methods in treating diseases.  Since there is no precise definition, the concept of ‘Regeneration’ is quite disunity in the contemporary world.  For example: ‘Tissues Engineering’ sometimes is called ‘Regenerative Medicine’; ‘Cell transplantations are also called ‘Regenerative Medicine’, etc.  The reason for the confusion is that there is no effective clinical treatment system yet established in clinical practice.

However, we believe that ‘Regenerative Medicine’ must give top priority to the concept of Regeneration, which should meet the meaning of real Regeneration. Just as its name implies that regeneration is generally known as restoration of original structure and function, without that realization, nothing can be called Regeneration.  According to this definition, at present, there is few can be called Regeneration, only our treatment of diseases through regenerative restoration of tissues and organs in situ by cells can be defined as Regenerative Medicine.

In 2004, the monograph Burns Regenerative Medicine and Therapy was published by KARGER publishing house. In this monograph, I have given a definite definition of the clinical scope of Regenerative Medicine and summarized research results and development of various similar concepts of Regenerative Medicine. Because Regenerative Medicine is a part of Human Body Regenerative Restoration Science, I would like to re-compile the published Introduction to Regenerative Medicine in the book in order to make the readers a better understanding. (Selected from Professor Rongxiang Xu’s monograph Burns Regenerative Medicine and Therapy published by KARGER, Page 5 -12)