Deaths & Tributes Archives

Weekly reads: Vertex & CRISPR Therapeutics, Arnold Caplan death, MS genetics

January 14, 2024 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D. / 5 Comments

The biotechs Vertex and CRISPR Therapeutics have an interesting relationship as biotechs. They are partners are multiple levels but also are very different as companies including in size. There’s been a key development in one of their partnerships. Before we jump into that, please check out the video version of my 20 stem cell and […]

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Another kind of stem cell tragedy: William P. Murphy passes at 100

December 12, 2023 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D. / 2 Comments

It’s kind of a tragedy that William P. Murphy, former chairman of unproven stem cell clinic firm, US Stem Cell, might be most remembered after his recent passing for his doings there. For example, I didn’t know until now of his prolific past as a biomedical inventor who did a lot of good. Instead, my impression of

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Man reportedly dies after getting unproven stem cell therapy in Mexico

October 17, 2023 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D. / 32 Comments

stem cell death, stem cell therapy in mexico

A surfer news site reported that a man recently died after getting an unproven stem cell therapy in Mexico. The article is entitled Tragedy strikes in Mexico as Shane Dorian’s traveling companion for “life-altering” stem-cell therapy dies. Shane Dorian is a famous surfer who hopes to fight aging at 51. As part of that effort, Dorian

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Weekly reads: Kevin McCormack passes, HSCs & RXR, Ethics

December 18, 2022 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D. / 3 Comments

Kevin McCormack, Paul Knoepfler, stem cell research

Out of the blue this past week we lost Kevin McCormack of CIRM to a heart attack. When I first heard, my reaction was that can’t be, but it is. About Kevin McCormack If you aren’t familiar with him, Kevin was officially Director of Patient Advocacy at our state’s Stem Cell Agency. However, he was

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Tributes to NYSCF leader & stem cell advocate Susan Solomon

September 9, 2022 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D. / 2 Comments

It was a shock to learn today that New York Stem Cell Foundation CEO and Co-Founder Susan Solomon had passed away yesterday after a long battle with ovarian cancer. I met Susan a few times over the years and was always struck by her positive energy. At a practical level she got big things done

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Thoughts on death of stem cell clinic leader Dr. Mark Berman

May 18, 2022 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D. / 18 Comments

Over the past dozen years as I’ve written about stem cell clinics here on The Niche I’ve gotten to know many of those running the clinics including Dr. Mark Berman of Beverly Hills. It was therefore kind of a shock to learn that Berman died of last month. Michael Hiltzik of the LA Times reported

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Tribute to pioneering stem cell scientist Meri Firpo

October 21, 2021 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D. / 9 Comments

Tenneille Ludwig, Meri Firpo, and Rosario Isasi at a stem cell meeting (l-r).

Last week we lost Meri Firpo, a great scientist and dear friend in the stem cell community who touched many lives in positive ways. Today’s post is a tribute to Meri, who passed away from breast cancer. If you want to add a tribute please add a comment. Meri Firpo short bio Meri received her

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The cheating death excitation

November 6, 2014 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D. / 4 Comments

How does one go about cheating death? Who doesn’t want to cheat death? I know I certainly do. Can stem cells help many people in the immediate future to escape death (pictured here in personified form as Death t from Wikipedia)? Recent headlines on new stem cell-related clinical developments would make you think so and

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Tribute to CIRM Vice-Chair, Duane Roth

August 5, 2013 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D. / 2 Comments

Duane Roth, the Vice-Chair of the California Stem Cell Agency CIRM and the leader of CONNECT, an organization promoting entrepreneurship in the San Diego area, died yesterday. Roth had been in a serious solo cycling accident on July 21. Roth had a long, successful career in biotech including having founded Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. He was

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Philippines Investigating 3 Politician Deaths Allegedly From Stem Cells in Germany

June 23, 2013 / Professor Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D. / 10 Comments

The Philippines Medical Association (PMA) is reportedly (article from ABS-CBN News) investigating the recent deaths of 3 prominent politicians due to stem cell therapies via stem cell tourism in Germany at an as yet unidentified clinic. The names of the politicians are unknown, but strangely enough today there’s another separate article on stem cells from the Philippine

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