The private cord blood bank industry has promised families all kinds of great things over the years. A typical ad for such cord blood banks might say, “Your child may need cord blood in the future for a cure.” The industry also often uses the analogy of frozen cord blood as an insurance policy for […]
Remember the Lung Institute? Many patients raised red flags about their experiences there. It was also once known as the Lung Health Institute. More generally, patients who have been harmed by stem cell clinics have had to rely on other ways beyond the FDA to try to do something about it. The FDA has been
Lung Institute stem cell clinic loses class action suit, patients awarded $9M Read More »
I was able to watch some of the 9th Circuit Court hearing today on the FDA appeal of its loss in the Cell Surgical Network lawsuit. This post is my brief impressions as a scientist. What went down? Do the three judges seem to be leaning one way or another? The ruling in this case
9th Circuit hearing on FDA appeal of Cell Surgical Network case: maybe encouraging? Read More »
Paolo Macchiarini is one of a small group of people in the stem cell universe whose misconduct has blown up in the press. Piero Anversa, Haruko Obokata, Hwang Woo-Suk, and some operators in the unproven stem cell clinic sphere come to mind. Macchiarini published quite a few seriously problematic papers, some of which just hung
Weekly reads: late Macchiarini retractions, stem cells & Lululemon Read More »
There has been a steady stream of encouraging data on stem cells for MS. Particularly for certain kinds of MS. A new study adds to this upbeat direction. Good news on stem cells for MS Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in Sweden: an observational cohort study, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery,
Weekly reads: stem cells for MS, Kimera Labs IND, FDA lawsuit Read More »
An important appeals case is pending not just for the defendants Cell Surgical Network, et al., but also for the FDA. It could impact the stem cell field very broadly too. Cell Surgical Network lawsuit status Hopefully, we’ll get a decision before the end of this year. Cell Surgical Network is a large chain of
Goldwater Institute weighs in against FDA on Cell Surgical Network lawsuit appeal Read More »
It feels like I’ve been writing about the Florida clinic US Stem Cell for a very long time. The FDA has been aware of them for about as long. It was only after reports of patient injuries that the FDA at last took action on US Stem Cell and its subsidiary US Stem Cell Clinic. Several
Did US Stem Cell Clinic defy FDA injunction? New injured patient suit sparks questions Read More »
Researchers have been making stem cell-based embryo models for years now and a few folks have taken to calling these “stembryos.” Other names like gastruloids and blastoids are sometimes used too. “Embryo models” might be the simplest and best name. The embryo model research has advanced relatively quickly from very basic, not very organized structures
Weekly reads: stembryos or human embryo models, new Macchiarini sentence Read More »
There seems to be a never-ending supply of stem cell for hair loss research but a new article invokes a novel mechanism. Stem cell for hair loss research and cell mechanics Here’s a recent news item about a PNAS paper: Coaxing hair growth in aging hair follicle stem cells, NW Now. A common theme is things
Weekly reads: stem cell for hair loss, clinic lawsuit update, 2 big retractions Read More »
I usually associate NPR with solid journalism so I was scratching my head about a recent puff piece by WHYY on stem cell microneedling. Is this journalism or product promotion? The NPR piece by Maiken Scott doesn’t ask important questions. Scott received stem cell microneedling herself using a product from a company called AnteAGE. How
WHYY oh WHYY: NPR puff piece on risky stem cell microneedling Read More »