Picture a world where health care is more accessible, more personalized, and affordable. We are on the verge of a revolution – a revolution started by science originating in Canada.Stem cell technology is undeniably the future of medicine. And this future is already starting. Stems cells are unique in that they can grow into any cell in the human body. They are essentially programmable building blocks that are ushering in a new future for regenerative medicine.Rather than treating symptoms, the power of regenerative medicine lies in its potential to halt or reverse disease. It focuses on replacing, repairing or regenerating human cells, tissues and organs. And it is making jaw-dropping progress on some of the toughest illnesses: Parkinsons, cardio-vascular disease, muscular dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, retinal degeneration, blood cancers, brain repair, liver diseases, lung repair (important for “Long COVID”), sepsis, diabetes, and others.New procedures fuelled by stem cell technology will help people avoid stressful and invasive organ transplants, as regenerative therapies will instead repair damaged organs and eliminate the need for replacement. Imagine the cost savings for the health care system and a life time of anti-rejection medications.  Better yet, think of the improved quality of life for the patient and their family. This field is also pioneering personalized testing on organ and bio-system replicas to pre-indicate how an individual patient will respond to a particular kind of drug. Just imagine, before embarking on cancer treatment, being able to pre-study how your system will react to a particular drug or treatment course. That is where this science is going.Or consider the story of Kevin Bolusi from Montreal. In 2015, he suffered third degree burns to 75 per cent of his body. Using a new method of tissue engineering in a clinical trial out of Laval University, Kevin's skin was regenerated with healthy cells. Rather than relying on old skin graft technologies, his skin was regenerated from within. This new therapy virtually eliminates the chances of rejection and developing graft-versus-host disease, a life-threatening condition.On the west coast. we are seeing another exciting recent breakthrough – in Type 1 Diabetes. Led by Drs. Tim Kiefer and David Thompson, a team is testing a surgically implanted device half the size of a credit card which carries lab-created cells that produce insulin. This can be life changing for people and this UBC research could one day eliminate the need for daily insulin shots.As the COVID-19 pandemic revealed, domestic capacity in health care is an essential strategic asset. Canadians benefit from being able to do or make something in Canada – and not rely on international supply, particularly at a time of global shortage and acute international demand. This is why the Government of Canada is now investing and promoting the establishment of vaccine manufacturing here at home. These same principles apply to health research. By fostering a made-in-Canada capacity for cutting-edge scientific research, we ensure Canadians are the first to receive new therapies. We get Canadians into leading-edge clinical trials. This must be a strategic priority.  Sustaining investment in this innovative research will unlock stem cell's potential for the medical treatments of our future.We are at the tipping point of wide-sweeping improvements for patient lives through the research conducted in this country.Stem cells were discovered by Canadian scientists from the Ontario Cancer Institute just over sixty years ago. The pioneering science was done here in Canada, giving our country a first-move advantage. True, other jurisdictions – U.S., Japan, U.K. – have surpassed us in research investments, but Canada is on the global stage; we must maintain this position.Canada was consistently ranked among the top three global contributors to stem cell research by international experts in a 2020 survey. The country also continues to year-on-year increases in venture capital funding companies that bring these scientific discoveries through to commercialization. This is a trend we need to entrench, and a science funding culture we need to foster.Later this month, the Stem Cell Network will be announcing the largest funding competition in its history, supporting a new suite of research and the next generation of research projects and clinical trials. Regenerative medicine and stem cell technologies are the future for a healthier and more prosperous Canada. But this will only be achieved with a coordinated national strategy that builds on current research strength and growing commercial momentum taking place from coast to coast. By coming together, we can leverage our strengths to advance the therapeutic discoveries that will define the future of medicine.Cate Murray is the President & CEO for the Stem Cell Network. Since 2017, she has secured $69 million in funding to support stem cell and regenerative medicine research. Today, she is driving change that will ultimately lead to innovative therapies and technologies for the health of Canadians for years to come.