The Galway University Stem Cell Manufacturing Center can produce stem cells for the treatment of arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes and its complications. This center is one of the few licensed stem cell manufacturing centers in Europe. It has received funding support from the Irish Health Research Board and Science Foundation and is conducting clinical trials on mesenchymal stem cells. These stem cells are extracted and cultured from adult bone marrow and can be used to treat diabetic complications—severe limb ischemia, which can lead to amputation if it progresses to a serious level.
Ireland experienced a 40% growth in sales in the regenerative medicine product sector in 2013, with a market value of 1.3 billion euros. Currently, 70% of pharmaceutical companies worldwide are engaged in regenerative medicine treatment projects, which is an emerging field that spans both biology and engineering disciplines. According to estimates from Galway University, there are currently over 1,900 clinical trials for cell therapy underway globally.