stem cell clinics

Stem cell clinic group, Cell Surgical Network, fires PR back at FDA

Cell-Surgical-Network

The FDA took some big action last week and issued a major statement today on stem cell clinics (see my post here). I asked Dr. Mark Berman of the Cell Surgical Network if he had any statement regarding the recent action and statement from the FDA today that involved flagship network member clinic, California Stem Cell …

Stem cell clinic group, Cell Surgical Network, fires PR back at FDA Read More »

Six questions as FDA takes new shot at stem cell clinics

FDA-draft-guidance

The FDA issued a historic statement today promising to more clearly define its regulatory policies on stem cell therapies and to take strong action on some stem cell clinics that it views as “bad actors”. I’ve never the FDA use such clear-cut language before. I give big kudos to new FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb. It already …

Six questions as FDA takes new shot at stem cell clinics Read More »

Scientist’s dilemma: find a public voice on big issues or stay silent?

Scientists-Dilemma

There is a scientist’s dilemma: should you speak out on important, sometimes controversial issues in science, where you not only can potentially have positive impact, but also risk being attacked for it? Or do you remain silent? I’ve now been blogging for more than 7 years. I’ve battled the often exploitive for-profit stem cell clinics …

Scientist’s dilemma: find a public voice on big issues or stay silent? Read More »

Lawsuit against stem cell clinic StemGenex expands to 5 patients

Stemgenex

The stem cell clinic StemGenex was sued almost a year ago related to allegations about their marketing claims. This proposed class action suit, Moorer v. StemGenex, now includes five named patients involved as one can see from the new fourth amended complaint court document. The five total named patients involved in the suit include four new …

Lawsuit against stem cell clinic StemGenex expands to 5 patients Read More »

Hallelujah it’s raining money? Stem cell job ad is window into clinics & their finances

stem-cell-raining-money

“Are you a motivational speaker?” is how a recent stem cell job ad for a sales position related to stem cell clinics begins. This ad that popped up on Monster earlier this summer is a revealing window on stem cell clinic practices. What’s inside, in my opinion, is cause for concern. Lately we’ve seen more and more ads for stem …

Hallelujah it’s raining money? Stem cell job ad is window into clinics & their finances Read More »

Stem cell clinic-related biz threatens researcher with lawsuit, wants retraction

turner-leigh

University of Minnesota bioethicist Leigh Turner has been threatened with a lawsuit by a stem cell clinic-related business. Lawsuit threats in this arena come up every so often and as much as they are unpleasant realities, they can also reveal some important aspects of the stem cell arena. Ars Technica reported yesterday that Leigh’s recent paper …

Stem cell clinic-related biz threatens researcher with lawsuit, wants retraction Read More »

Money talks: stem cell clinic ads mushrooming in mainstream media

Seattle-times-stem-cell-ad

Over the years I’ve been keeping my eyes open for advertising by stem cell clinics and lately the trend is big splashy ads in mainstream media including large daily newspapers such as the SacBee, the San Francisco Chronicle, and now the Seattle times (see below from today’s). These kinds of big ad buys on front or …

Money talks: stem cell clinic ads mushrooming in mainstream media Read More »

Reading the tea leaves as new FDA commish Gottlieb blogs on regenerative medicine

Dr.-Scott-Gottlieb

New FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, M.D., has in the past touched on stem cells and regenerative medicine therapies in speeches or written comments prior to starting his tenure at the agency. Now that he is Commissioner, he is poised to have direct impact on our field rather quickly and potentially with major changes in …

Reading the tea leaves as new FDA commish Gottlieb blogs on regenerative medicine Read More »

TGIF: Stem cell and science weekend reads

electricity-stem-cells

A list of stuff for your weekend reading enjoyment ranging from research pubs to news to commentary. Electrical Stimulation Steers Neural Stem Cells. Way to go UC Davis team; see image at right. Stem cell therapies: medical experts call for strict international rules. A team calls for global efforts. Stem cells in court: historical trends in US …

TGIF: Stem cell and science weekend reads Read More »