Blog - Page 248 of 282

The case for open access publishing embodied in a single equation

June 12, 2012 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D.

Open access publishing is getting a lot of attention. Taxpayer supported government grants + scientists’ work = closed access publisher profits (derived from payments from taxpayers + scientists) This simple equation embodies all that is wrong with today’s predominant system of publishing. In fact, it is an indictment of closed access publishers. The profits of […]

The case for open access publishing embodied in a single equation Read More »

What are the best iPS cell papers so far?

June 11, 2012 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D. / 5 Comments

What are the most important iPS cell papers so far? 1) Yamanaka’s first paper on mouse iPS cells. Revolutionary. Intriguing perspectives presented in day 1 of the iPS cell field. Interesting statements such as Myc is required. Also take a look at those other reprogramming factors that he tested…there’s a tremendous amount there, largely unexamined.

What are the best iPS cell papers so far? Read More »

Stem cells on the brain: why can’t the brain just fix itself?

June 8, 2012 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D. / 5 Comments

p27-staining-of-developing-mouse-brain-cerebellum.

Why doesn’t the brain fix itself using stem cells the way other organs do? Earlier this week I was lecturing to students here at UC Davis on stem cells. One of the points I raised was that most if not all of our organs have a compliment of stem cells that are there to maintain

Stem cells on the brain: why can’t the brain just fix itself? Read More »

The end of the NFL? The “new” brain injury epidemic

June 7, 2012 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D.

Welcome to the NFL era of the brain injury epidemic. It’s always been an epidemic, but we as a society are only realizing it now. Remember those old anti-drug commercials that aired on TV I think in the 80s saying “This is your brain on drugs”? They showed an egg frying in a pan (see

The end of the NFL? The “new” brain injury epidemic Read More »

FDA visits both ICMS and reportedly Celltex

June 6, 2012 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D. / 6 Comments

The FDA has been busy with stem cell-related activities this spring including with ICMS. Busier than publicly apparent. Very busy, indeed! Earlier, I reported that they issued a warning letter to cosmetician to the stars, Dr. LookGood, as well as one to another doc selling stem cell therapies. Now it seems apparent that even more

FDA visits both ICMS and reportedly Celltex Read More »

Insults 2.0: more ways scientists skewer each other

June 6, 2012 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D. / 4 Comments

Yesterday I put out a post as a guide for scientists to insult each other. More insults have been forthcoming from the blog readerships including some even nastier ones. Most are just downright mean, but some are sexist or racist. Sadly these comments are real. They skewer you and roast you over the coals, often

Insults 2.0: more ways scientists skewer each other Read More »

The scientist’s guide to insulting other scientists

June 5, 2012 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D. / 9 Comments

Here is the scientist’s guide to insulting other scientists. Strap in.Scientists have special ways of using words to insult each other and believe me it can be vicious even if almost uninterpretable to those not fluent in that language. These insults are sometimes brutal or fatal career-wise, but also sometimes ironic and telling of our

The scientist’s guide to insulting other scientists Read More »

Making sense of all the big prostate cancer headlines of the last few weeks

June 3, 2012 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D. / 4 Comments

It’s been a big couple weeks of headlines in the news for prostate cancer. Let me help you make sense of it all. I’m a prostate cancer survivor and cancer biologist. Prostate cancer is almost an inevitable fate for men in America and for many around the world, but a significant fraction of the cancers

Making sense of all the big prostate cancer headlines of the last few weeks Read More »

Wondering why Celltex is still so silent

June 1, 2012 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D. / 12 Comments

Why is the Texas stem cell company Celltex so super duper private about itself? I’m not sure. It has been the subject of much discussion in the stem cell field in the past year. Unfortunately, much of the news has been negative, largely related to their former head of ethics, Glenn McGee, who also was

Wondering why Celltex is still so silent Read More »