CNN stumbled badly on its recent article on Celltex, a Texas-owned stem cell clinic that has seen more than its share of controversy over the years including tangles with the FDA. As a result, the company has moved its clinical operations to Mexico where oversight is more lax. Their customers include American patients in Mexico […]
CNN blows it on Celltex, controversial stem cell clinic in Mexico Read More »
GOP members of Congress want a ban on CRISPR of human embryos. They are moving to block genetic modification of human embryos using the new CRISPR gene editing technology. The new proposed spending bill part way through the approval process with the nugget of good news of a possible NIH spending boost after many years
GOP Congress seeks ban on CRISPR of human embryos Read More »
Both before and particularly now after the big human gene editing summit in Washington, D.C. at the National Academy of Sciences, I’ve talked with patients about their views on this new technology including at last week’s World Stem Cell Summit. One of the most striking moments of the DC summit was when the mother of
Just freakin do it: patients voice impatience on CRISPR for genetic diseases Read More »
It’s been a great couple days so far here at the World Stem Cell Summit in Atlanta. You can follow it on Twitter using the #WSCS15 hash tag. I first attended it 5 years ago in Pasadena. One of the special aspects of WSCS is it brings together diverse stakeholders in a way that just
World Stem Cell Summit 2015: IPS cells, #CRISPR, CAR-T Read More »
Be sure to join the ongoing Reddit AMA I’m doing on human genetic modification and CRISPR. Lots of great and often tough questions so far!
I’m doing a Reddit AMA: bring questions on human genetic modification & #CRISPR Read More »
“Take a Selfie”, has become a catch phrase in pop culture. There is a preoccupation with capturing one’s own existence and key moments in pictures. Another trend is a DIY culture including taking initiative with one’s own health. When combined together we are in the midst of a larger trend in medicine where patients will
Take a medical selfie: a taste of your own medicine Read More »
Note that this poll is focused on germline, heritable genetic modification. Thus, it does not include somatic cell/gene therapy applications.
Poll #GeneEditSummit: a moratorium on human genetic modification? Read More »
I’m thankful for a whole bunch of things on Thanksgiving including family, but here I wanted to talk specifically about why we should be thankful for science. At this moment in history it is plainly evident how greatly past science has helped the world and at the same time how intensely the world needs research
Science on Thanksgiving & recommended reading Read More »
A few weeks ago I spent a bit of time in Vienna participating in TEDxVienna. You can see two previous posts on my experience here and here. My own video is not up yet on TED, but a few have popped up so far here. One of my favorites is the talk “What if we
More from @TEDxVienna including photos and videos Read More »
Astellas Pharma is on track to purchase Ocata Therapeutics (formerly Advanced Cell Technology). This has stirred a lot of strong feelings amongst investors in Ocata. (Update, now almost 5 years later, the Ocata vision program is still not going full steam ahead at its new owner it seems). I’ve also been wondering what exactly is
What is Astellas Pharma, the purchaser of Ocata? Read More »