In this article
Stem Cell Institute Panama is a cash-pay stem cell clinic at BICSA Tower, 63rd Floor, Panama City, Panama, the tower it shares with the Hilton Panama hotel.[14] It treats patients with donor-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from human umbilical cord tissue, which it calls Golden Cells and which the Medistem Panama laboratory processes.[1]
Sources checked October 29, 2026. FDA documents below were read from dated archives, not verified as current live pages. This guide describes documents and adult research, not treatment suitability or a recommendation to travel.
- Stem Cell Institute lists its address as BICSA Tower, 63rd Floor, Panama City, Panama, and places its Medistem Panama cell laboratory separately in the City of Knowledge.[14]
- The clinic describes its cell product as donor umbilical cord tissue MSCs, branded Golden Cells, given intravenously, intramuscularly, intrathecally or into a joint.[1][15]
- Riordan et al. (2018) reported an open-label, single-arm study of 20 adults with multiple sclerosis treated at the clinic, and a 2021 correction states that the sponsor took part in design, execution and analysis.[18][20]
- The clinic's own FAQ states that no stem cell product from any source is approved by the US FDA for any condition it treats.[15]
- The FAQ also says insurance does not cover the treatment and that the cost of a protocol is given in writing after medical approval.[15]
- US stem cell therapy listings on Regenerated.com are a separate comparison resource and do not indicate any affiliation with the Panama clinic.
Where is Stem Cell Institute, and who operates it?
The clinic's About page places it in BICSA Tower, the building shared with the Hilton Panama. It places the Medistem Panama laboratory separately in the City of Knowledge.[14] A clinic address and a cell-processing laboratory address answer different questions.
The same page lists Neil Riordan, PA, PhD as founder and board chairman, and Jorge Paz-Rodriguez, MD as medical director and board member.[14] These are the organization's published roles, not independent verification of individual credentials. Ask who would assess you and which clinician would perform each proposed procedure.
What is the Stem Cell Institute address in Panama City?
The contact block on the clinic's website gives its address as BICSA Tower, 63rd Floor, Panama City, Panama.[14] BICSA Tower is the high-rise that also houses the Hilton Panama hotel, so the treatment clinic and the hotel the clinic offers in its packages sit in the same building.[15] The cell laboratory is not at that address: the clinic places Medistem Panama in the City of Knowledge, a separate research and education campus.[14]
Who else appears on the clinic's leadership list?
The About page also lists a laboratory director among its board members.[14] The page describes Medistem Panama as an ISO 9001 certified facility. ISO 9001 is a general quality management standard, so it describes how an organization manages processes rather than the clinical effect of a cell product. Ask which document covers good manufacturing practice for the specific batch you would receive.
What cells and administration routes does the clinic describe?
The provider calls its selected cells Golden Cells and identifies Medistem Panama as the processor.[1] That is a provider description, not a laboratory result for a patient's proposed batch.
Its FAQ lists intravenous, intramuscular, intrathecal and intra-articular administration.[15] A list of routes does not identify an individual treatment plan. Request the proposed route and exact cell product in writing rather than assuming every visit involves the same preparation.
Mesenchymal stem cells are also called mesenchymal stromal cells, and cells from umbilical cord tissue are often abbreviated UC-MSCs. The FAQ says donated cords come from healthy women after normal cesarean births in Panama, with donor consent, a questionnaire and blood testing.[15] That is an allogeneic (donor) source, which differs from autologous options such as bone marrow aspirate or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) that use a patient's own tissue. For background on the cell type itself, see the overview of mesenchymal stem cells and how they are studied.
| Document | Question it should answer | Keep separate |
|---|---|---|
| Cell-product description | What tissue source, processing laboratory and batch are proposed? | A branded name versus a batch-specific report.[1] |
| Individual treatment plan | Which route is proposed for this visit? | The FAQ's list versus an individual plan.[15] |
| Research paper and correction | Who participated, what was measured and who funded the work? | A published observation versus a personal prediction.[18][20] |
Which conditions does Stem Cell Institute say it treats?
The clinic's website lists autism, autoimmune diseases, cerebral palsy, frailty of aging, heart failure, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal cord injury and sports injuries among the conditions it treats.[15] A condition list is a marketing category, not evidence that the treatment works for that condition.
The two adult reports summarized below cover multiple sclerosis and one case of IgA nephropathy. Neither addresses osteoarthritis, autism or heart failure. For each condition on the list, ask which published study used the same cell preparation, route and patient group, and which specialist (a neurologist, rheumatologist, cardiologist or orthopedic physician) would review your records.
What did the adult studies actually measure?
A March 9, 2018 report described 20 adults with multiple sclerosis treated at Stem Cell Institute with intravenous donor umbilical cord MSCs. It was an open-label, single-arm study with one-year follow-up, not a randomized comparison.[18]
Mean Expanded Disability Status Scale scores were 5.23 at baseline and 4.75 at one month, with 20 measurements at each visit. Scripps Neurological Rating Scale total means were 75.0, 75.5 and 73.5 at baseline, one month and one year, with 20, 20 and 17 scores respectively. Higher scores on this scale denote higher neurological functioning. Some participants changed concomitant MS medication use.[18]
A May 10, 2021 correction states that the sponsor participated in study design, execution and analysis. It also adds a concern about applying a t-test to a small sample.[20] Read the correction with the original paper, not as a second study.
A July 15, 2022 case report followed one 50-year-old man with IgA nephropathy after acute renal failure. After earlier US care, he received intravenous donor umbilical cord MSCs at the Panama clinic. Reported creatinine was 3.0 mg/dL before the clinic intervention, 1.03 at two months and 1.0 at six months.[21]
That case had no comparison group. The authors acknowledge that the natural course of disease cannot be ruled out.[21] These selected reports describe observations, not a clinic-wide success rate. They do not establish what would happen to a different patient.
Both papers list Neil Riordan as an author, and the case report also lists Jorge Paz-Rodriguez, the clinic's medical director.[18][21] Research authored by the people who run a clinic is still research, but it is not independent replication. For how other MSC studies in multiple sclerosis are designed, see stem cell therapy for MS.
Does a research listing establish regulatory approval?
FDA consumer information, marked current April 8, 2024 and recovered from a December 14, 2025 archive, distinguishes US marketing approval from investigational oversight. It states that ClinicalTrials.gov inclusion or FDA firm registration does not establish lawful marketing.[19] Those US records do not establish Panama authorization.
FDA's product list, marked current September 17, 2026 and archived October 15, 2026, names individual licensed products and manufacturers.[22] It is not blanket approval of every product described as stem cells or of an overseas clinic. This guide did not independently establish the clinic's current Panama authorization. Ask for the exact current authorization document, issuing authority and scope.
The clinic's FAQ states plainly that no stem cell product from any source is approved by the US FDA for any condition it treats.[15] The archived FDA list does include one mesenchymal stromal cell product, remestemcel-L, licensed for a specific pediatric transplant complication, which shows that FDA licenses individual products for named indications rather than cell types in general.[22] More on that distinction is in the explainer on which stem cell products the FDA has approved.
The same FAQ says cells from its Panama master cell banks were starting material for products used in the United States for two patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, under single-patient compassionate use Investigational New Drug (IND) authorization.[15] Single-patient expanded access lets a physician use an unapproved product for one person under FDA oversight. It is not marketing approval, and it says nothing about the protocols offered in Panama. In Panama, the national health authority is the Ministry of Health (MINSA), so ask which authority issued the clinic's operating license and what it covers.
How does treatment at Stem Cell Institute work, according to the clinic?
The clinic's FAQ describes an application, a medical review, approval and then a multi-day stay in Panama City.[15] The table restates what the FAQ says at each step. These are the provider's own descriptions, not independently checked timelines.
| Step | What the FAQ says | What to ask for in writing |
|---|---|---|
| Application and review | The medical team usually reviews an online application in one or two working days, and no longer than five.[15] | Who reviews it, and which of your records they need. |
| Approval | Conditional approval leads to a request for medical records; full approval allows scheduling.[15] | The reasons for approval or decline in your case. |
| Protocol length | Most protocols last 3 to 5 days with 3 to 4 sessions, and patients typically receive at least 3 cell applications.[15] | Your proposed number of applications, routes and cell doses. |
| Cost and insurance | Cost is given in writing after approval, and the FAQ says insurance does not cover the treatment.[15] | An itemized quote, refund terms and what is excluded. |
| Travel package | The quoted fee includes a Hilton hotel room with breakfast, airport transfers and airport gate service.[15] | Which nights, services and companions the package covers. |
| Reported side effects | Fewer than 10% of patients, mostly after lumbar puncture, are said to have had a minor fever, headache, nausea or vomiting lasting no more than three days.[15] | How adverse events are recorded and who you contact after you return home. |
The side effect figure is the clinic's own statement, not a result from a published safety study. Intrathecal injection is given by lumbar puncture, which carries its own risks separate from the cells. For broader context on what self-pay cell protocols include, see the overview of stem cell therapy cost, and for another common medical travel destination, the guide to stem cell therapy in Mexico.
What should you ask before arranging a visit?
Request a written record of the proposed product, administration route, responsible clinician, included services and follow-up arrangements. Ask which paper studies that exact preparation and patient group, and whether a linked correction changes the account. Keep a research identifier separate from a license or marketing authorization.[19]
Ask who will provide records to your usual clinician and who answers questions after you return home. Treat missing documents as unanswered questions, rather than filling the gaps with testimonials. This page does not recommend changing medication, choosing a dose or selecting a procedure.
A short written list keeps the conversation concrete:
- Which cell product, tissue source and batch would I receive, and can I see a certificate of analysis for that batch?
- Which route and how many applications are proposed, and which clinician performs each one?
- Which published study used the same preparation for my condition, and was it randomized or single-arm?
- Which Panama authority licenses the clinic and the laboratory, and what does that license cover?
- What does the written quote include and exclude, and what happens if I cancel?
- Who sends my records to my US physician, and who handles a problem after I fly home?
Where can you compare US Stem Cell Therapy records?
For a separate US directory search, the September 2026 export contains 1,096 records listing Stem Cell Therapy among 9,042 US clinic records, across 47 states and the District of Columbia. Source: Regenerated.com clinic export, September 2026. This is historical directory coverage, not a market-size estimate or a count of clinics using the Panama product.
Browse the US Stem Cell Therapy directory, or compare recorded listings in Michigan's Stem Cell Therapy directory, Texas's Stem Cell Therapy directory and New Mexico's Stem Cell Therapy directory.
Two examples of records carrying that service category are the Regenexx Des Moines directory profile and the Francine Rhinehart directory profile in Dallas. These links do not establish Panama affiliation, the same cell source or product, or current availability. Confirm each provider's own services directly. A listing is not an endorsement.
Before comparing US options, the stem cell therapy treatment guide explains cell sources, regulation and how US clinics usually describe their services. When you are ready to look at providers, the national list of stem cell therapy clinics lets you filter by state and city. Listing order on Regenerated.com is not paid ranking, Featured slots are labeled and capped, Verified means a clinic completed credential checks rather than paid for placement, and the directory is free for patients, as set out in how Featured, Verified and organic listings differ.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stem Cell Institute in the United States?
No. Stem Cell Institute describes its clinic as being in Panama City, Panama, at BICSA Tower, 63rd Floor, with its cell laboratory in the City of Knowledge.[14] It publishes US phone numbers for inquiries, but treatment takes place in Panama. The US directory links on this page are a separate comparison resource and do not establish any branch or affiliate relationship with that clinic.
What floor is Stem Cell Institute on in BICSA Tower?
Stem Cell Institute gives its address as the 63rd floor of BICSA Tower in Panama City, Panama.[14] BICSA Tower is the building it shares with the Hilton Panama hotel, which is also the hotel named in the clinic's treatment packages.[15] The Medistem Panama laboratory that processes its cells is at a different site, in the City of Knowledge, so confirm which address each appointment uses before you travel.
What does Golden Cells mean on the clinic's website?
Golden Cells is the provider's name for its selected donor umbilical cord tissue MSCs, processed by Medistem Panama.[1] The FAQ says the name refers to cells from six particular cell lines chosen after a retrospective review of the clinic's own cases.[15] The name alone does not supply a batch-specific laboratory report, so ask for the certificate of analysis for the batch proposed for you.
Do the published studies give a clinic-wide success rate?
No clinic-wide success rate is established by the two adult reports summarized here: a single-arm MS study and a kidney case report.[18][21] The MS paper also has a sponsor-involvement and statistical-limitations correction.[20] Neither report had a randomized control group, and both were written by clinic leadership. These reports are not personal outcome predictions for any other patient or condition.
Does ClinicalTrials.gov registration mean FDA approval?
No. The FDA information page recovered from a December 14, 2025 archive says that ClinicalTrials.gov listing does not establish legal marketing.[19] Trial registration and US product approval are different questions; neither supplies a current Panama authorization document. The clinic's own FAQ also states that no stem cell product is FDA approved for the conditions it treats.[15]
Does insurance cover treatment at Stem Cell Institute Panama?
The clinic's FAQ says insurance companies do not cover its stem cell therapy, especially treatment in a foreign country, so patients pay directly.[15] The FAQ says the cost depends on the recommended protocol and is given in writing after medical approval, with a Hilton room and airport transfers included. Ask for an itemized quote, the refund terms, and whether any follow-up care at home is excluded.
Sources
- Stem Cell Institute Panama: official homepage. Checked October 29, 2026.
- Stem Cell Institute: About Stem Cell Institute. Checked October 29, 2026.
- Stem Cell Institute: Frequently Asked Questions. Checked October 29, 2026.
- Riordan et al. Clinical feasibility of umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Checked October 29, 2026.
- FDA: Important Patient and Consumer Information About Regenerative Medicine Therapies, archived December 14, 2025. Checked October 29, 2026.
- Riordan et al. Correction to: Clinical feasibility of umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Checked October 29, 2026.
- Riordan, Ambrozic and Paz-Rodriguez. Case report: effect of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on immunoglobulin A nephropathy after acute renal failure. Checked October 29, 2026.
- FDA: Approved Cellular and Gene Therapy Products, archived October 15, 2026. Checked October 29, 2026.