Here are some papers and news for weekend reads. What are you reading this weekend? What are your go-to stem cell journals? Hostile Takeover: Glioma Stem Cells Recruit TAMs to Support Tumor Progression by Yu Shi, Yi-fang Ping, Xia Zhang, Xiu-wu Bian in Cell Stem Cell. YAP1 Regulates OCT4 Activity and SOX2 Expression to Facilitate self-renewal and […]
Weekend Reads: Cool Papers, PubPeer, Jacob Hanna, & More Read More »
For the 4th straight year I’m going to get my head shaved to support St. Baldrick’s in their mission to cure childhood cancer. St. Baldrick’s is a great charity that raises money specifically for pediatric cancer research in part via events at which “shavees” raise funds via pledges that they will get their heads shaved.
How can baldness help cure kid’s cancer? St. Baldrick’s Read More »
In the last few months the FDA has taken steps toward crystalizing regulatory oversight of stem cell and more broadly cell and tissue-based therapies. These steps come in the form of several draft guidances (see here, here, and here) . The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) has responded to the draft guidance on Minimal Manipulation. For example, ARM has
ARM Asks FDA for Clarification on Draft Guidance on Minimal Manipulation Read More »
A question that has come up with advances in stem cell technology: could same-sex couples have their own biological children? Since Shinya Yamanaka reprogrammed first mouse and then human ordinary cells into powerful pluripotent stem cells, termed induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, back in 2006-2007 many new research avenues have opened up. The impossible suddenly
Are babies from same-sex couples possible? Read More »
It’s been exciting to watch the recent developments in using stem cells as the basis for treatments for Type I Diabetes. One of the major players in this arena is the privately-held company, ViaCyte. In this post, I interview ViaCyte President and CEO, Paul Laikind. The topics include their VC-01 product, the Encaptra device, an update on
ViaCyte CEO Laikind Interview: Trial Update, Melton, & Future Read More »
Spock was always my favorite Star Trek character, and even if Leonard Nimoy was not Spock, it seemed to me that there was much of Nimoy in Spock. And for many of us scientists there was some of Nimoy and Spock in us too. The news of Nimoy’s death was a bit of a shock
Could Spock Style Stem Cells Have Saved Leonard Nimoy? Read More »
The pieces on my radar screen to read in my ample spare time as I work the weekend on literally 5 different grants include these pieces: NECSS and SfSBM: A weekend of science and skepticism Breaking Down Fat: Trends in adipose cell-based clinical trials PubPeer Selections: Odd citations, “practice makes perfect,” a Nature update Right Turn:
Recommended Weekend Science Reads Read More »
On Monday, I’ll be doing another Reddit AMA, this time on 3-person IVF also known as 3-parent IVF, mitochondrial transfer, 3-parent babies, etc. You can see the upcoming AMAs including mine listed in the right sidebar here. Mine will start at 10AM PST/1PM EST. I hope to discuss with a wide audience all the key
Monday, March 2: My Reddit AMA on 3-Person IVF – Mitochondrial Transfer Read More »
The challenge to the WARF/Jamie Thomson patents/IP on human embryonic stem cells (hESC) is at an end. The US Supreme Court declined to hear the case. Earlier, the USPTO had turned down the challenge leading to a winding road in the courts. What do you all think of this stem cell IP challenge and the
Supreme Court Rejection of WARF hESC Patent Challenge Discussion Read More »
With the House of Lords vote yesterday, the UK officially became the only country in the world to have legalized human genetic modification via 3-Person IVF. The point of this “mitochondrial transfer” or “3-person IVF” technology is not directly to genetically modify humans specifically, but it still will lead to that result in any case.
UK OKs 3-Person IVF: Perspectives Read More »