Stem cells and regenerative medicine have been heralded since the mid-20th Century as the best hope for curing countless physical ailments.

Decades later, there have been perhaps as many scandals in this field of medicine, as there have been genuine advances in research and application; and the full potential of stem cells is yet to be realised.

Physician-scientist Professor John Rasko de-mystifies the science by sharing stories of some of the field's most influential and infamous figures.

He also explains why there's still plenty of reason to be hopeful.

Flesh Made New: The Unnatural History and Broken Promise of Stem Cells by John Rasko and Carl Power is published by Harper Collins

Professor John Rasko is the Head of Department of Cell and Molecular Therapies at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and the Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program at the centenary Institute, University of Sydney

John is a featured guest of Griffith University's Integrity 20

Listen to John's 2018 Boyer Lectures

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Hope, hype and exploitation the wild history of stem cell science - ABC News