Clare Wilson over at the NewScientist has reported the case of a woman given an experimental stem cell treatment in Portugal for a spinal cord injury who later developed a strange tumor consisting of nose tissue. I highly recommend going over to that site and reading her excellent article. What’s the deal with this case? The woman was […]
Woman grows nose tumor in spine after stem cell injection Read More »
A new patent has been awarded to James Sherley for a very unusual method claimed for making induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. The patent, No. 8,759,098, claims that a single non-genetic chemical agent, xanthine, can by itself reprogram adult stem cells (ASC) into iPS cells (aka iPSCs; see image they released at left). Surprising patent, huh? Another
Sherley patent for reprogramming method like STAP cells Read More »
In my book, Stem Cells: An Insider’s Guide, I have published something new for the stem cell field: a Stem Cell Patients Bill of Rights. I’ve past it below in visual form. As I was making this Bill of Rights, I thought about what patients have told me are the most pressing issues for them as they
Book Excerpt: Stem Cell Patients Bill of Rights Read More »
Lately on average patients or patient relatives contact me about stem cells more than once a week. That’s about 50 times a year. The patients or their parents have questions about stem cells most often. Sometimes they have comments about this blog. Other times they ask for medical advice from me. Because I am a
Contemplating patients contacting me about stem cells Read More »
In this post I propose that researchers and patients advocate together to pressure the stem cell clinic industry to collect and publish such data. Why do I make such a proposal? Many thousands of patients have bought stem cell interventions from non-compliant stem cell clinics. Thousands of others are considering doing so. You can see
Call to patients: let’s advocate together for stem cell clinic publishing Read More »
Here is a patient guide to stem cells with the key factual things you need to know. For better or worse, I am in the unique position of being a stem cell scientist and also a patient since I had cancer 2 years ago. Looking on the bright side this gives me a unique perspective
Factual patient guide to stem cell treatments Read More »
When I talk to people about stem cell science and the timeline for turning data into treatments and cures, their reactions completely depend on whom they are. Scientists are patient, perhaps too patient….perhaps too understanding of the many years that we are told that science takes to get something to the clinic. Patients and patient
Is it fair to tell a patient to be patient? Read More »
For better or worse, I am in the unique position of being a stem cell scientist and also a patient. Looking on the bright side this gives me a unique perspective on things. I know there are thousands of people out there looking for more practical information about stem cell therapies and treatments. These folks
Key facts for a patient about stem cell treatments Read More »
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkSaAhbceBk How we choose or heroes, our Supermen and Superwomen, says a lot about who we are. There’s a scene (above) in one of the Superman movies, starring Christopher Reeve, where Lex Luther puts a Kryptonite necklace on Superman. Superman is powerless around Kryptonite and collapses to the ground. I always remember that scene because
Who do you call Superman? Read More »
There is a kind of invisible cultural wall between patients such as cancer patients and biomedical scientists like me, but this wall does not have to exist and indeed it is a negative wall as patients, scientists, doctors, agencies, and advocates can achieve far more together than apart. But the wall is surprisingly strong. Last
My Cancer: how I became an advocate too Read More »