Today, I am launching a new effort called Stem Cell Outreach Program for Education  (SCOPE). I think stem cell technology will transform medicine across the globe, but it will take a concerted effort to make certain that stem cell-based therapies do not become a type of medicine only available to the relatively wealthy or predominantly available […]

There has been a lot of publicity about the reported stem cell treatment of NY Yankees pitcher Bartolo Colon.  According to several sources, Colon received his treatment in his native Dominican Republic. Major League Baseball reportedly seems most concerned about this case, at least publicly, because human growth hormone (hGH) might have been used in

How much would you pay for freedom from disease or disability? When I was a teenager, some friends started a peculiar discussion. The topic? How much would you pay if you could skip the next time you were supposed to throw up?  How much would it be worth it to you to not barf your

Last week I posted a stem cell treatment poll. I was curious about people’s experiences and attitudes toward non-FDA approved stem cell treatments. During my time as a stem cell scientist and educator, I have met many people, some of whom have told me about their experiences with stem cell treatments. The results of the

For those of us conducting stem cell research, especially human stem cell research, I don’t have to tell you how expensive it is. Even just doing pre-clinical or basic science research costs a fortune. When you start talking about the kind of pre-clinical research specifically designed to get in the near future to a Phase

As we celebrate Memorial Day we need to pay our respects to the servicemen and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice, their lives, for our country. I hope that in the future stem cell research can perhaps slightly lessen the burden on our servicepeople and their families through technologies to save the lives of

In the debate over funding for embryonic stem cell research, it is usually assumed that Democrats are in favor of embryonic stem cell research and that Republicans are opposed. But recent polls suggest that amongst the U.S. population as a whole, most political and religious groups are widely in favor of embryonic stem cell research.

  UPDATE: I’ve now updated the poll to allow readers to choose up to 2 answers since this is important given the new option of “If facing a disease…” One of the cool things about writing this blog is that I get to meet so many amazing people including patients and their families as well