Glossary
SVF research terms in plain language
The vocabulary used across our research pages, explained so you can read studies with confidence.
- SVF (Stromal Vascular Fraction)
- A mixed cell population isolated from adipose tissue containing mesenchymal stromal cells, endothelial cells, immune cells, and others. It is not a purified stem cell product.
- ADSC (Adipose-Derived Stem Cell)
- Mesenchymal stromal cells isolated from fat and expanded in culture — unlike SVF, which is used without culture expansion.
- MSC (Mesenchymal Stromal Cell)
- Cells that can proliferate and secrete signalling factors with immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity; a key studied component of SVF.
- Paracrine effect
- Acting on neighbouring cells through secreted factors rather than becoming new tissue — the leading hypothesis for how SVF may act.
- RCT (Randomized Controlled Trial)
- A study that randomly assigns participants to treatment or control, reducing bias. It is high-level evidence for treatment questions.
- Double-blind
- Neither participants nor assessors know which treatment was given, limiting expectation bias.
- Placebo / sham control
- A comparison group receiving an inactive procedure such as saline, separating real effect from expectation — critical in pain research.
- Systematic review
- A pre-specified, methodical collection and appraisal of all relevant studies on a question.
- Meta-analysis
- Statistically pooling results from multiple studies to estimate an overall effect size.
- Confidence interval
- The range likely to contain the true effect. Narrower is more precise; if it crosses no-effect, the result is inconclusive.
- Clinically meaningful difference
- A change large enough for a patient to actually notice — distinct from statistical significance, which can be too small to feel.
- Follow-up duration
- How long participants are observed after treatment. Most SVF studies are short-term, so long-term outcomes remain unknown.
- Minimal manipulation
- A regulatory concept separating tissue handling that does not alter basic characteristics from products requiring biologic drug approval.
- Homologous use
- Using tissue for the same basic function it served in the donor; other uses generally require formal product approval.
- Off-label / unapproved use
- Use outside an approved indication, which calls for thorough disclosure and informed consent.