I started a poll on what PIs dislike most about the NIH grant process. Why did I even do such a poll? I’ve been a professor for 6 years now and even in just a half a dozen years it’s clear that the grant process has become more and more painful. The poll results suggest …
NIH grant process is painful on many levels according to poll respondents Read More »
Next month there is going to be a new stem cell meeting taking place. The 1st Annual Houston Stem Cell Summit. The primary sponsor is Celltex. I’d encourage everyone to go, but I’m not so sure it’d be worth it. Why? I’m always glad to see another stem cell meeting and this one is surely unique in …
Houston stem cell meeting lacks diversity & risks falling to groupthink Read More »
I’m writing an R01 now for the Oct. 5 deadline and not enjoying it. You think perhaps that’s an understatement? I’ve lost track of how many grant proposals I’ve submitted in the last 6 years, but if there ever was any thrill, the thrill is long gone. I seem to vaguely remember I used to …
What’s the worst, most tortuous part of the grant application process? Take our poll Read More »
In the U.S. Declaration of Independence three “inalienable rights” are said to be endowed on people: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. People also have other rights in the U.S. including freedom of speech and religion. These rights seem clear enough, but wait a minute….what are “people”? What entity qualifies as a “person” to …
Alienable: how personifying corporations & zygotes robs real people of their rights Read More »
I love stem cells, but I have to admit bionics is totally amazing as well. Both hold great promise for fixing up human beings as we injured or age. Today a major advance in vision correction via bionics was announced here at UC Davis that has really caught my attention. I was not involved in …
Bionic eye here at UC Davis holds great promise for restoring vision Read More »
What’s the deal with Nordstrom and stem cells? Are they going to rename themselves “Nordstem”? I grew up in Bellevue, WA, home of the Nordstrom’s family and of the Nordstrom department store chain. I believe the flagship store was just across Lake Washington in Seattle. I don’t like shopping as perhaps most guys feel, but …
Nordstrom hawking super expensive, non-FDA approved stem cell cosmetic drugs Read More »
Stem cell cosmetics is an exploding area ranging from facial creams (e.g. from L’Oreal and its Lancome) to face lifts to boob jobs to baldness treatments (see two key posts here and here for background and great stories). The stem cell cosmetics field has not been held back by issues such as the fact that …
L’Oreal Lancome gets hammered by FDA, why kid gloves for clinics? Read More »
There is enormous interest in point-of-care for-profit stem cell commercialization by relatively small clinics hoping to hit it big here in the U.S. Some big investors have poured millions into these clinics that are treating patients with adult stem cell therapies. As I’ve talked with some of these folks they expect this market to grow dramatically …
Surprising main obstacle to point-of-care stem cell commercialization by small clinics Read More »
I watched Mitt Romney on Meet The Press a bit on Sunday morning. I’ve of course seen him other times interviewed on TV. I keep thinking to myself “Who is the real Mitt Romney?” One thought was that he reminded me of a game show host! Somehow that fits. Then I thought of the game …
Funny Mitt Romney as Game Show Host Poll: which show would be his? Read More »
I think the number of main stream media articles on stem cells that are dumb is increasing…some weeks it’s hard to choose which is the dumbest in fact. This week it is not so hard to pick. The Daily Mail has an epic fail piece on a British company’s dubious stem cell treatment for wrinkles …
Dumb stem cell article of the week goes to the Daily Mail on stem cell cosmetics Read More »