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Adipose Stem Cell Research Areas

See what clinical trials are studying, with honest limits. Banking preserves your own tissue now; it is not a treatment and does not prepare you for any specific therapy.

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Investigational Clinical Trials | U.S.-Based Labs | Education, Not Medical Advice

What This Page Covers

This page is an overview of the conditions where adipose-derived and mesenchymal cells are being studied. It is educational. Every area listed here is investigational: the research is ongoing, results are unproven, and none of these uses is FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Banking preserves your own tissue now. It is not a treatment for any of these conditions, and it does not enroll you in any trial.

Key takeaways:

  • Every condition on this page is an area of investigational research, not an available treatment.
  • Adipose-derived and mesenchymal cell uses for these conditions are not FDA-approved.
  • A registered clinical trial is not proof of safety or effectiveness. Many trials do not lead to approved therapies.
  • Banking preserves your own tissue; it does not treat any condition or guarantee future access.
  • Be cautious of anyone marketing stem cell treatments for these conditions. Talk with a licensed physician.
Important: SaveMyFat connects patients and providers with a U.S.-based tissue bank for adipose tissue banking. SaveMyFat does not collect, process, or store tissue itself, and it does not provide treatments or cures for any disease or medical condition. Most adipose-derived cell products that are more than minimally manipulated are regulated as biologics and are not FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Every condition described on this page is an area of investigational research only. None of these uses is FDA-approved, and banking is not a treatment for any of them. Banking your tissue today does not guarantee eligibility, access, or clinical benefit from any future therapy or clinical trial. This page is educational and is not medical advice. Talk with your own licensed healthcare provider about any medical decision.
Adipose stem cell research areas | conditions being studied

WHERE THE
SCIENCE IS HEADED.

Researchers worldwide are studying adipose-derived and mesenchymal cells across many conditions. This work is investigational. It has not shown these cells to be safe or effective for those conditions, and none of these uses is FDA-approved. Banking preserves your own tissue; it does not enroll you in any study.

Why It Matters

A Field That Is Still Developing

Some trials succeed and many do not. A registered trial is not proof of safety or effectiveness, and it is not FDA approval. Banking preserves your own tissue now, without any promise about the future.

  • New studies are registered regularly
  • Your own tissue, cryopreserved
  • Preservation, not a promise of treatment
How Banking Works
Family Benefit

Family Eligibility Is Not Guaranteed

Under certain legal and medical guidelines, eligible first-degree blood relatives may be considered for future use of your banked tissue. This is not guaranteed and would be decided by a physician within a lawful pathway.

  • First-degree relatives may be considered
  • Eligibility is not guaranteed
  • Decided by a licensed physician
Learn About Family Eligibility

How to Read This Research

The conditions on this page are areas of active study, not menus of available treatments. Most research on adipose-derived and mesenchymal cells is early stage, involves small numbers of patients, and reports preliminary or mixed results. A study being registered on ClinicalTrials.gov means it is registered, not that the approach is proven, safe, effective, or FDA-approved.

Clinical trials test safety and possible effectiveness under strict protocols. Enrollment is controlled by investigators, participation is voluntary and requires informed consent, and trials are research studies, not treatment programs. Be cautious of any clinic marketing stem cell ‘treatments’ for these conditions outside a registered trial or an FDA-authorized pathway. As the FDA explains in its patient information on regenerative medicine therapies, most such products have not been shown to be safe or effective. Banking your tissue does not enroll you in any study or entitle you to any treatment.

Clinical Trials Underway

The conditions below are areas of active research. For each, adipose-derived or mesenchymal cells are being studied, but the work is investigational and not FDA-approved. These are not available treatments. Read each with the understanding that a registered trial is not proof of safety, effectiveness, or approval.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the digestive tract. Researchers are studying whether adipose-derived or mesenchymal cells could play any role, but this research is early and investigational, results are unproven, and no such use is FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent Crohn’s disease. Banking is preservation, not treatment. Browse registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system affects the protective covering around nerves. Researchers are studying whether adipose-derived or mesenchymal cells could play any role, but this research is early and investigational, results are unproven, and no such use is FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent multiple sclerosis. Banking is preservation, not treatment. Browse registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Long COVID refers to symptoms that persist for months after a COVID-19 infection. Researchers are studying whether adipose-derived or mesenchymal cells could play any role, but this research is early and investigational, results are unproven, and no such use is FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent long COVID. Banking is preservation, not treatment. Browse registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Type 2 diabetes affects how the body regulates blood sugar. Researchers are studying whether adipose-derived or mesenchymal cells could play any role, but this research is early and investigational, results are unproven, and no such use is FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent type 2 diabetes. Banking is preservation, not treatment. Browse registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Osteoarthritis of the knee involves gradual wear of the cartilage that cushions the joint. Researchers are studying whether adipose-derived or mesenchymal cells could play any role, but this research is early and investigational, results are unproven, and no such use is FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent knee osteoarthritis. Banking is preservation, not treatment. Browse registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Acquired brain injury can follow a loss of oxygen, trauma, or other causes. Researchers are studying whether adipose-derived or mesenchymal cells could play any role, but this research is early and investigational, results are unproven, and no such use is FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent brain injury. Banking is preservation, not treatment. Browse registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Hair loss (alopecia) affects many men and women and can affect confidence. Researchers are studying whether adipose-derived or mesenchymal cells could play any role, but this research is early and investigational, results are unproven, and no such use is FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent alopecia. Banking is preservation, not treatment. Browse registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov.

New Research Is Published Every Month.

We track registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov and share updates on our blog. This coverage is educational and does not imply that any treatment is available or approved.

In-depth guides: For background on how these studies are regulated and interpreted, see our guides on adipose stem cell clinical trials, FDA regulation of adipose tissue, state stem cell laws, the stem cell science glossary, and longevity and tissue banking. Physicians can also visit the physician resource center.

Additional Clinical Trials Underway

More areas of active, investigational research are below. None of these uses is FDA-approved, and banking is preservation, not treatment.

Rotator cuff injuries are a common cause of shoulder pain and reduced mobility. Researchers are studying whether adipose-derived or mesenchymal cells could play any role, but this research is early and investigational, results are unproven, and no such use is FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent rotator cuff injury. Banking is preservation, not treatment. Browse registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Erectile dysfunction becomes more common with age and has many causes. Researchers are studying whether adipose-derived or mesenchymal cells could play any role, but this research is early and investigational, results are unproven, and no such use is FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent erectile dysfunction. Banking is preservation, not treatment. Browse registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov.
A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted. Researchers are studying whether adipose-derived or mesenchymal cells could play any role, but this research is early and investigational, results are unproven, and no such use is FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent stroke. Banking is preservation, not treatment. Browse registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung condition. Researchers are studying whether adipose-derived or mesenchymal cells could play any role, but this research is early and investigational, results are unproven, and no such use is FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent COPD. Banking is preservation, not treatment. Browse registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Chronic kidney disease is a gradual loss of kidney function. Researchers are studying whether adipose-derived or mesenchymal cells could play any role, but this research is early and investigational, results are unproven, and no such use is FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent chronic kidney disease. Banking is preservation, not treatment. Browse registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Autism spectrum disorder affects how people communicate, interact, and experience the world. This is an area where unproven stem cell ‘treatments’ have been marketed, and the FDA and other health authorities warn against them. Any cell-therapy research is very early, investigational, and not FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent autism. Banking is preservation, not a treatment for autism. Browse registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Diabetic foot ulcers are a serious complication of diabetes. Researchers are studying whether adipose-derived or mesenchymal cells could play any role, but this research is early and investigational, results are unproven, and no such use is FDA-approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent diabetic foot ulcers. Banking is preservation, not treatment. Browse registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov.
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Frequently Asked Questions

No. These are areas of investigational research, not available treatments. Adipose-derived cell uses for these conditions are not FDA-approved. Banking preserves your own tissue; it does not provide access to any treatment.
Clinical trials set their own eligibility criteria, and enrollment is controlled by the investigators running each study. Having tissue banked does not enroll you or guarantee eligibility. L2 Bio is recruiting for its FDA-authorized (investigational) Phase 2b Crohn’s disease trial, but participation depends entirely on that study’s criteria. Talk with a licensed physician.
Under certain guidelines, eligible first-degree blood relatives may be considered for future use. Eligibility is not guaranteed and is decided by a physician within a lawful pathway.
Some people choose to bank earlier because research suggests cell characteristics can change with age. This is a personal preservation decision, not a treatment, and no future benefit is guaranteed.
Preserve Your Own Tissue

Banking preserves your own tissue now. It does not give you access to treatments, and adipose-derived cell uses remain investigational and not FDA-approved. Any future use would be decided with a licensed physician.

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About the Author

Oscar Tellez is the founder and CEO of SaveMyFat. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from Florida Atlantic University and is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer. Oscar has spent more than a decade working across the regenerative medicine industry, including product distribution, laboratory and vendor relationships, and provider training. He founded SaveMyFat to connect patients and providers with compliant adipose tissue banking and to simplify the process. This article is educational, reflects current FDA guidance, and is not medical advice or a substitute for consultation with a licensed clinician.

Sources and further reading: U.S. FDA, Consumer Alert on Regenerative Medicine Products; FDA, Patient Information on Regenerative Medicine Therapies; 21 CFR Part 1271 (HCT/Ps); FDA Expanded Access; ClinicalTrials.gov.

Last reviewed: July 2026.

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