Regenerative Technologies: Future Grand Challenges and Emerging Strategies

The United Nations 2019 World Population Prospects report has reported that by 2050, 1 in 6 people in the world will be over the age of 65, up from 1 in 11 in 2019 (1). As such, it is essential that we continue to develop new regenerative technologies that can address the associated growing and unmet clinical need of this aging and growing demograph. Consideration of the ease of translation of regenerative technology innovative products at all stages of research is important. This includes ease of manufacture scale up, regulatory aspects and also economic cost. The new aging population projections indicate that nine countries will make up more than half the projected growth of the global population between now and 2050. These include India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, the United Republic of Tanzania, Indonesia, Egypt, and the United States of America (in descending order). The 2019 United Nations report also states that circa 2027, India will overtake China as the world's country with the highest population (1). Therefore, an understanding of the health and economic needs of these particular areas is important to be considered when developing new products that will have a large global impact. Regenerative technology has the capability to address both niche areas of health but also can have a large global impact. The research area this journal covers is a broad theme covering innovative approaches that focuses on assisting the repair or replacement of damaged tissues and organs. Our speciality journal in regenerative technology aims to assist in dissemination and thus translation of these innovations in several areas.