Ordinary Citizens' Expectations for Regenerative Medicine and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Researches in Japan

Abstract

Objective: In order to examine people’s expectations for regenerative medicine and iPS cells researches in Japan, we conducted an attitude survey not only among ordinary citizens but also among patients with age-related macular degeneration. Methods: 2,656 ordinary citizens, 445 age-related macular degeneration patients, and families of 210 agerelated macular degeneration patients answered 5 question items. Results: Knowledge of iPS cell research, expectations for treatment using iPS cells, and Information acquisition of studies using iPS cells were significantly higher among patients and their families, in comparison with citizens. Regarding iPS cells researches, the ordinary citizens were favor of promoting development of therapeutic drugs for intractable diseases rather than "organ regeneration, including the liver and kidney" and "creation of sperm and ova for assisted reproductive technology". Conclusions: Expectations for regenerative medicine, using iPS cells, were greater both among individuals involved in the disease and ordinary citizens. Especially, they count on development of therapeutic drugs for intractable diseases.