Year: 2015

Just freakin do it: patients voice impatience on CRISPR for genetic diseases

IMG_4221

Both before and particularly now after the big human gene editing summit in Washington, D.C. at the National Academy of Sciences, I’ve talked with patients about their views on this new technology including at last week’s World Stem Cell Summit. One of the most striking moments of the DC summit was when the mother of …

Just freakin do it: patients voice impatience on CRISPR for genetic diseases Read More »

Upbeat Update from Duke on Stem Cell Autism Trial, but Questions Remain

210_KurtzbergJoanne2012

In 2014, I reported on a groundbreaking, but debated Duke stem cell-based clinical trial being launched for autism. Where does that trial stand today? (note that as of 2018-2020 I am very skeptical about stem cells for autism) The cord blood trial has continued. It is led by Dr. Joanne Kurtzberg, whom I interviewed about cord blood stem …

Upbeat Update from Duke on Stem Cell Autism Trial, but Questions Remain Read More »

World Stem Cell Summit 2015: Unique & Valuable Perspectives #WSCS15

WSCS15

I’m excited to be attending the World Stem Cell Summit starting today in Atlanta. This is a novel meeting that brings together academics, industry, patients, and more stakeholders in the stem cell and regenerative medicine world. I’m hoping that a live video stream will work for you to watch some of the meeting in the right …

World Stem Cell Summit 2015: Unique & Valuable Perspectives #WSCS15 Read More »

What if I could make designer babies for you? My TED talk

Paul_TED2

What’s it like to give a TED talk and could there be designer babies in your future as a parent? On Halloween I gave a TEDxVienna talk (click above) on giving consideration to the possibility that we may be headed toward a new reality in the next 15 years in which there are designer babies. …

What if I could make designer babies for you? My TED talk Read More »

Take a medical selfie: a taste of your own medicine

Medical-Selfie

“Take a Selfie”, has become a catch phrase in pop culture. There is a preoccupation with capturing one’s own existence and key moments in pictures. Another trend is a DIY culture including taking initiative with one’s own health. When combined together we are in the midst of a larger trend in medicine where patients will …

Take a medical selfie: a taste of your own medicine Read More »

Perspectives: no human genetic modification moratorium from organizers of #GeneEditSummit

GeneEditSummit

I just got back from a historic summit on human genetic modification in Washington, D.C. New genetic modification technology, termed CRISPR-Cas9, has both made genetic modification a relatively simple matter for scientists and human genetic modification much more likely in the near future. Heritable human genetic modification could prevent some rare genetic diseases so there …

Perspectives: no human genetic modification moratorium from organizers of #GeneEditSummit Read More »

Live Blog #GeneEditSummit Day 2 Post #2: International Governance

Human-gene-editing

How do governance issues for human genome editing work at the international level? Indira Nath, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, gives a nice overview to start the session. She raised the example of medical tourism and surrogacy in India. She argued for an international consensus on what is permissible on human gene editing. How …

Live Blog #GeneEditSummit Day 2 Post #2: International Governance Read More »