A market-research report, Stem Cell Technology: Current Application and Future Directions from BCC Research, Wellesley, Mass., (bccresearch.com) says expect the domestic market for stem-cell technology to increase from $112.0 million in 2007 to $423.1 million in 2012, a compound annual growth rate of 30.5%

The market divides into cellular therapeutics and therapeutic-banking categories. Therapeutic banking has the larger market share, worth $65.9 million in 2007. It's expected to increase to $155.7 million in 2012.

Cellular therapeutics should be the faster growing segment. It generated $46.1 million last year and is expected to earn $267.4 million in 2012. The report cautions that although stem-cell-based treatments hold great promise, the delivery of readily available treatments is still projected at least five to 10 or more years away.

U.S. market for stem cells in regenerative medicine, Revenue through 2012 in $ millions