US Leads Regenerative Medicine Research as China Gains Ground

The United States still tops the Nature Index rankings for regenerative‑medicine output from 2016 to 2025, but China is rapidly closing the gap. Data show the Chinese share in health‑science research is expanding fast enough that the distance between the two nations could shrink in the next few years. The ranking lists the top ten countries by share of regenerative‑medicine papers, with the US far ahead followed by China, Japan, the United Kingdom and others. Among the 50 leading institutions, ten have the highest share of regenerative‑medicine work; the University of Cincinnati in Ohio dedicates just over 10 % of its total Nature Index output to the field. Collaboration patterns reveal strong bilateral ties, as the top country pairs between 2016 and 2025 score high on total joint research despite the US often having more than ten times the individual share of its partners. All figures are based on analysis by Bo Wu and visualised by Bec Crew and Tanner Maxwell. The report forms part of the Nature Index 2026 Regenerative Medicine supplement, which is editorially independent and free from advertiser influence. The findings highlight how global competition is shaping the future of cell‑based therapies and underline the importance of continued investment in research partnerships.