Ask SCB: Why Participate in Standards Development?
In this series, SCB Senior Scientific Program Manager Dawn Henke, PhD, and Scientific Program Manager Catherine (Katie) Zander, PhD, answer common questions from the regenerative medicine community.
Busy regenerative medicine stakeholders often wonder if joining a standards working group is worth their time and effort. Here are six key ways that participation in standards development can pay off for both you and your organization.
#1: Have a Say in the Standards That Are Developed
Providing input into standards helps them better meet your organization’s needs and account for the real-world challenges you encounter in your work.
Sharing effective best practices from your organization helps align the standard with what you are already doing, saving time and effort while validating your organization’s expertise.
#2: Gain an Edge in Preparing for Upcoming Standards
As one of the first to see and shape the standard, you’ll have extra time to ensure your processes align with the implemented standard—or even design new processes around the standard.
Being part of the discussion and debate around a standard can help you understand the standard better for future implementation.
This, in turn, can accelerate the review process for new regenerative medicine products—increased understanding of the standard makes it easier to use it in approval.
#3: Build Relationships and Increase Collaboration with Other Regenerative Medicine Organizations
Standards working groups provide an opportunity to establish relationships and collaborate with others doing similar work, and those you might not otherwise encounter.
Working groups can also help you make connections with groups that have capabilities you may not—especially valuable for smaller companies or startups.
#4: Learn About the Needs of Others in the Value Chain
Working groups allow you to collaborate with others in the regenerative medicine value chain you might not otherwise work with, giving you both a better understanding of each other’s work and priorities.
These conversations often illuminate new challenges in the industry that your organization may be well positioned to help remediate—potentially leading to improvements in efficiency or cost benefits.
#5: Become Better Connected with Regulators
You’ll have a chance to hear directly from regulators, who often participate in standards development as observers, on the issues covered by the standard.
Similarly, you can communicate with these regulators to ask questions or make them aware of your organization’s concerns.
#6: Build Your Organization’s Reputation in the Regenerative Medicine Community
Involvement in standards development helps you build a positive reputation as an organization that cares about safety and the good of the whole field.
Your expert contributions help the regenerative medicine field become safer, which helps keep the public trust.
Ready to Get Involved?
Many SCB-coordinated standards working groups are currently seeking new members. Contact SCB to join one or to learn about other ways you can get involved in regenerative medicine standards development.
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