Developments and challenges in human embryonic stem cell research in Spain

After years of following the trail of others, Spain is finally making a serious bid in science, specifically in regenerative medicine. In the framework of the European Union, Spain is setting up the basis for a solid collaborative network between public and private institutions, involving basic, translational, applied, technological and clinical researchers. In a society characterised by the idiom "slow but secure", it is still too soon to see the results of the huge economic and infrastructure investment made. We present here an overview of the challenges that have been surmounted and the ones that will have to be solved in order to situate Spain as a reference country in regenerative medicine worldwide.