Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine in Ohio: What’s Legal and What to Know

Last reviewed: 4/26 · Verify current state guidance before relying on any specific claim

Ohio occupies an unusual position in American regenerative medicine: the state is home to some of the country’s most significant research infrastructure — Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve, The Ohio State University, and University Hospitals together form the National Center for Regenerative Medicine — yet state-level regulation of consumer stem cell clinics has been notably limited. The State Medical Board of Ohio has not issued comprehensive guidance specific to commercial regenerative therapy. The State Chiropractic Board, separately, took one of the more concrete state-level enforcement actions in the country when it barred chiropractors from administering stem cell injections in 2018. Ohio adopted a Right to Try law in 2016.

For the federal framework that applies in every state — FDA regulation of cell and tissue products under 21 CFR Part 1271, the 361/351 distinction, FDA enforcement history, and the federal Right to Try Act — see How Regenerative Medicine Is Regulated in the United States.

The State Medical Board of Ohio

The State Medical Board of Ohio licenses and regulates physicians (allopathic and osteopathic), physician assistants, anesthesiologist assistants, and several other categories of practitioner. The Board operates under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4731 and its associated administrative rules in Ohio Administrative Code 4731.

As of late 2025 [VERIFY current Board publications], the Board has not issued comprehensive guidance specific to stem cell, PRP, NAD+, or peptide therapy. Standard practice-of-medicine and informed-consent rules apply. The Board’s licensure verification and complaint portals are at med.ohio.gov.

A 2018 News 5 Cleveland investigation found that the State Medical Board had “failed to further regulate the sale, use and practice of stem cell treatments,” a characterization that remains broadly accurate in 2025 [VERIFY against current Board activity].

Ohio’s Right to Try Law

Ohio’s Right to Try Act is House Bill 290 of 2016, sponsored by then-Representative Robert Sprague and signed into law in early 2016 (Ohio HB 290, 131st General Assembly). Ohio was the 33rd state to adopt a Right to Try statute. The law allows eligible patients with a terminal condition to access investigational drugs, biological products, or devices that have completed FDA Phase 1 clinical trials.

The Ohio law operates in parallel with the federal Right to Try Act of 2018. The Ohio statute does not authorize clinics to offer unapproved stem cell, exosome, or peptide therapies outside the narrow conditions of the Act — terminal diagnosis, exhausted FDA-approved options, physician recommendation, access through the actual sponsor of an investigational product.

The 2018 Chiropractic Board Action

One of the more concrete state-level enforcement actions in the country came from a separate Ohio regulatory body: the Ohio State Chiropractic Board ruled in 2018 that chiropractors may not personally administer stem cell injections, finding the procedure outside the lawful scope of chiropractic practice. The Board’s website also surfaces FDA warnings about stem cell procedures.

The ruling does not affect physicians or other licensed providers, but it is one of the few clear state-level guardrails on regenerative medicine practice in Ohio. The licensure verification tool for chiropractors is at the Ohio State Chiropractic Board.

Ohio’s Regenerative Medicine Research Infrastructure

Ohio’s research footprint is large and well-funded:

  • The National Center for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM) is a multi-institutional consortium of Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals, the Cleveland Clinic, and The Ohio State University. NCRM was established in 2003 with a $19.4 million Wright Center of Innovation award from the State of Ohio.
  • The Center for Regenerative Medicine and Cell Based Therapies at The Ohio State University runs active translational research in Columbus.
  • The Cleveland Clinic operates one of the largest clinical regenerative medicine programs in the country, including FDA-registered cell processing facilities.

Patients in Ohio with an interest in legitimate experimental access should search clinicaltrials.gov for active trials at these institutions before pursuing cash-pay options at unaffiliated clinics.

IV Therapy and NAD+ in Ohio

NAD+ intravenous therapy is broadly available in Ohio. Registered nurses may administer IV therapy under physician standing orders; advanced practice registered nurses may prescribe within their scope. IV lounges, concierge IV services, and mobile IV providers operate openly in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and other metros.

NAD+ itself is compounded through 503A or 503B pharmacies. It is not FDA-approved for any indication. Patients pay out of pocket.

Telemedicine and Out-of-State Providers

Ohio is a member of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. Ohio residents can establish telehealth relationships with out-of-state physicians licensed through the compact. This is operationally relevant for patients evaluating clinics in other states before traveling, and for clinics in Ohio offering telehealth-first protocols.

Notable Enforcement

The FDA’s public Warning Letter database is the authoritative source for enforcement against specific Ohio-based clinics [VERIFY against current list]. The 2021 federal injunction in United States v. US Stem Cell Clinic, LLC applies in Ohio as in every state.

The 2018 Chiropractic Board action described above is the most concrete state-level enforcement against the broader regenerative medicine sector in Ohio.

Cost and Clinic Landscape

Regenerative medicine clinics in Ohio cluster in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Akron, Toledo, and Dayton. Celmedica currently lists [X] verified clinics across Ohio — pull live count.

Typical out-of-pocket pricing in Ohio (representative ranges; individual clinics vary):

  • PRP joint injection: $500 – $1,200 per session
  • Autologous stem cell injection (single joint or area): $4,000 – $8,500
  • NAD+ IV (single drip): $350 – $800
  • Peptide protocols: $200 – $1,200 per month, varies by compound

Ohio’s deep research infrastructure also means that some patients have access to clinical-trial pricing — meaningfully cheaper or free — for legitimate investigational protocols at the Cleveland Clinic, NCRM partner institutions, or OSU. This is the first option worth investigating before paying out-of-pocket at a commercial clinic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is stem cell therapy legal in Ohio? Ohio has no statute prohibiting or specifically authorizing stem cell therapy. Practitioners operate under the federal FDA framework and Ohio State Medical Board practice standards. Whether a specific therapy is legal depends on whether the product falls under FDA Section 361 (broadly permitted) or Section 351 (requires FDA approval).

Why is regenerative medicine research so concentrated in Cleveland? The Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve, University Hospitals, and The Ohio State University formed the National Center for Regenerative Medicine in 2003 with $19.4 million in state funding. The consortium has been one of the country’s most productive academic regenerative medicine programs in the two decades since.

Can chiropractors administer stem cell injections in Ohio? No. The Ohio State Chiropractic Board ruled in 2018 that administering stem cell injections is outside the lawful scope of chiropractic practice. Physicians and other appropriately licensed providers are not affected by the chiropractic ruling.

How much does stem cell therapy cost in Ohio? Autologous stem cell injections for a single joint typically range $4,000–$8,500 in Ohio metros. PRP runs $500–$1,200. Clinical trial participation at major academic centers is sometimes meaningfully cheaper or free.

Has Ohio taken action against any stem cell clinics? The 2018 Ohio State Chiropractic Board action against chiropractor-administered stem cell injections is the most notable state-level action. Specific physician disciplinary history is searchable at the State Medical Board of Ohio’s licensure portal.

Bottom Line

Ohio is one of the more permissive states in practice — substantial research infrastructure, a Right to Try statute, limited state-board action against commercial clinics, with the 2018 chiropractic ruling as the most concrete state-level guardrail. Patients have many options. The most important questions are physician credentials, FDA product classification of the specific therapy, and whether a clinical trial at one of Ohio’s academic centers is available before pursuing cash-pay options.

Next steps:

[FTC affiliate disclosure block]: Some links in this guide may earn Celmedica a commission at no additional cost to you. Read our affiliate disclosure.

[Medical disclaimer]: This guide is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal or medical advice. State laws and regulatory guidance change. Verify current rules with the State Medical Board of Ohio, the Ohio State Chiropractic Board, and the FDA, and consult a qualified physician before pursuing any therapy.

References

For the federal regulatory citations, see the federal baseline references.

Ohio-specific: