Raising the standards of stem cell line quality

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are transforming biomedical research and therapy development. With the rapid generation of numerous iPSC lines, the stem cell field must reach consensus about standards, policies and practices to ensure the highest quality and uniformity of stem cell lines and their derivatives. iPSC authentication and quality underlie the value of these unique cells for future medical applications. Here we discuss some of the challenges that remain, and propose approaches for ensuring cell line authenticity and improving iPSC quality.