 Human mesenchymal stem cells, HMSCs, are currently being investigated for their therapeutic potential in clinical studies to treat various diseases, disorders and injuries. However, there is still no conclusive evidence regarding their effectiveness. Improved cell processing techniques could potentially increase the efficacy and safety of these therapies. Current classical media used for HMSC generation often contain undefined supplements like FBS or human-derived alternatives. It would be ideal if these media were supplemented with defined serum-free formulations that support the efficient production of HMSCs while maintaining their therapeutic and differentiation capacities. This paper reviews current cell culture media for HMSCs and discusses strategies for developing improved media. This article was authored by Sun Hoon Jung, Krishna M. Panchalingam, Lawrence Rosenberg, and others.