Most human tissues do not regenerate spontaneously, but the development of biotherapies using stem cells may offer promising alternatives. Among the possible medium-term therapeutic applications for this technique are: cardiac insufficiency, preparation of small diameter arteries, treatment of atherosclerosis, bone repair, cartilage defects, burns, diabetes, liver or bladder regeneration, and neurodegenerative disorders. This concept of regenerative medicine is an emerging multidisciplinary field involving surgery medicine, biology, chemistry, mechanics and engineering, and can be seen as a way of improving health and quality of life by restoring, maintaining, or enhancing tissue and organ function.

This book – which is Volume 80 in the book series Biomedical and Health Research – presents the proceedings of the 9th China-France Symposium on Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, held in Strasbourg, France from 2–4 October 2019. The aim of the symposium was to provide researchers, clinicians and students with a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of stem cells and potential medical applications in cellular and tissue engineering for the treatment of various chronic diseases. It also brought together scientists from various disciplines and experiences to discuss recent advances in the use and applications of stem cells. The contributions presented here divide into three main themes: cells; tissue engineering; and clinical applications. Important complementary aspects such as ethics and cell marketing are also discussed.