Publication Name	World Journal of Stem Cells
Manuscript ID	116437
Country	Malaysia

Category	Developmental Biology
Manuscript Type	Editorial
Article Title	Protocol defines product: Navigating function, safety and translation of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Chee-Yin Wong
Funding Agency and Grant Number
Corresponding Author	Chee-Yin Wong, PhD, /, ALPS Group Inc., The ICON, East Wing Tower, Level 18-01 & 18-02, No. 1 Jalan 1/68F, Off Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur 50400, Malaysia. wongcy@celestialab.com
Key Words	Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cell; Induced pluripotent stem cell; Mesenchymal stem cell; Good manufacturing practices; Potency assay; Critical quality attribute; Clinical translation
Core Tip	This editorial highlights the emerging principle that in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cell (iMSC) development, protocol defines product. Drawing on recent comparative data, it underscores how different derivation routes yield functionally distinct iMSCs despite meeting minimal mesenchymal stem cell criteria. The piece advocates aligning differentiation methods with therapeutic mechanisms, embedding genomic safety early, and designing good manufacturing practices-ready, comparable manufacturing processes. By integrating biological insight with process discipline, iMSC technology can achieve reproducibility, potency, and safety, thereby turning conceptual promise into clinically reliable cell therapies.
Citation	Wong CY. Protocol defines product: Navigating function, safety and translation of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells. World J Stem Cells 2026; In press

Received	2025-11-12 07:08
Peer-Review Started	2025-11-12 07:08
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2025-12-19 08:07
Return for Revision	2025-12-19 08:07
Revised	2025-12-28 09:15
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-02-03 02:34
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-02-03 09:09
Articles in Press	2026-02-03 09:09
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1948-0210 (online)
Open Access	This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Copyright	© The Author(s) 2026. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Permissions	For details, please visit: http://www.wjgnet.com/bpg/gerinfo/207
Publisher	Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
Website	http://www.wjgnet.com