Month: January 2013

I just commented on CIRM proposed changes related to IOM: take some time before vote

I just gave a public comment to the CIRM Board encouraging them to take time and allow time for the public to digest the proposed CIRM changes before voting. People reading this blog have already asked me “Paul, do you support the changes?” and my answer is that I’m not sure. I just haven’t had …

I just commented on CIRM proposed changes related to IOM: take some time before vote Read More »

CIRM Board: Will it hold a quick shot vote today on dramatic changes?

CIRM Board Members continue to discuss the proposed changes in response to the IOM report (see pic above). There seems to be a slight majority in favor of the proposed changes amongst the board, however several board members are saying they need more time to consider the proposed changes and are uncomfortable voting today. As …

CIRM Board: Will it hold a quick shot vote today on dramatic changes? Read More »

CIRM Board Member Sheehy raises serious concerns re: proposed reduced role of patient advocates

CIRM is holding a meeting today on how to respond to the IOM recommendations on CIRM operations. I’m a CIRM grantee who is live blogging this meeting. My opinions are my own. The IOM, amongst other things, recommended that patient advocates on the CIRM Board not be allowed to be voting members of the CIRM …

CIRM Board Member Sheehy raises serious concerns re: proposed reduced role of patient advocates Read More »

“Solomonic” CIRM Proposal: Institutional Board Members Would not Vote on Grants

I just received a copy of CIRM’s proposed response to the IOM recommendations. Regarding what I believe to be the most important element, revamping the CIRM Board (aka ICOC), I was interested to see that CIRM (via President Jonathan Thomas) recommended that all institutional members of the Board no longer vote on whether to fund …

“Solomonic” CIRM Proposal: Institutional Board Members Would not Vote on Grants Read More »

Live Blogging the CIRM Board meeting on the IOM report

I made it here in one piece to Berkeley at the Claremont Hotel driving through torrential rain to get here for the CIRM Board Meeting discussing the recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) report on CIRM. The Board is in intensive discussion as I type. Some members seem more in favor of change and others are …

Live Blogging the CIRM Board meeting on the IOM report Read More »

‘Adventurous’ woman sought to carry Neanderthal baby: candidate for dumbest stem cell story of 2013 already pops up

The headline reads: ‘Adventurous’ woman sought to carry Neanderthal baby Supposedly Harvard Geneticist George Church, according to Der Spiegel magazine (and gazillions of other mainstream media outlets that translated the German piece including here), wants to clone a Neanderthal baby using an unholy combination of stem cell and genetics technologies. The only problem is that Church …

‘Adventurous’ woman sought to carry Neanderthal baby: candidate for dumbest stem cell story of 2013 already pops up Read More »

Cartoon on the future of stem cell deregulation

Stembucks, stem cell cartoon

Sometimes a stem cell cartoon has more impact than words. With growing pressure, including political pressure on the FDA, to deregulate the point-of-care, for-profit stem cell clinic industry, one can only imagine a future in which deregulation has taken its natural course…..that’s what I’ve done in the political cartoon above. A “double shot” takes on …

Cartoon on the future of stem cell deregulation Read More »

Nobel Laureate John Gurdon not a fan of idea of human cloning

Human cloning is an important issue at both scientific and societal levels. Earlier I included a guest post from bioethicist, Arthur Caplan, on human cloning. Today I am posting a short Q&A with Nobel Laureate John Gurdon. I asked Gurdon three specific questions and below each I have listed his answer. My sense is that …

Nobel Laureate John Gurdon not a fan of idea of human cloning Read More »