Search Results for: stem cells for ms

Questions on National Academies in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) meeting sponsorship

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in vitro gametogenesis, IVG

Research on in vitro gametogenesis or IVG is jumping ahead and such work could one day lead to new infertility treatments. In vitro gametogenesis is the process of producing gametes (sperm and eggs) from stem cells. Those powerful stem cells, called iPS cells, can be made from ordinary adult cells like skin or blood cells. […]

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Why did Duke autism team halt its troubling pay-for-play program?

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Almost two years ago I publicly called on the FDA to freeze the unproven cord cell expanded access program (EAP) at the Duke Autism Center. Duke has been infusing kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with unproven cord cells and requiring large payments for this. The cost was as much as $15,000. A halt and a

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Weekly reads: Sarepta, epigenomics, FDA on eyedrops

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Sarepa CEO interview.

The biotech Sarepta has had a complicated go of it with the FDA sometimes related to their Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene therapy efforts. In late 2016 I wrote about how there was some controversy as the FDA approved the Sarepta drug eteplirsen (Exondys 51) also for DMD, going against an advisory panel that had

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Weekly reads: genome sequencing, chemical reprogramming 2.0

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Human genome sequencing

I wrote earlier this week about genome sequencing of famous dead celebrities, pointing out that the trend seems full of ethical complexities. Genome news More broadly, sequencing the genomes of non-celebrities from hundreds or thousands of years ago can be important research. A new NYT piece covers such work on the Swahili people. Such research

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Weekly reads: UC Davis Medical School diversity, CRISPR, Parkinson’s

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UC Davis Medical School

It’s been almost seventeen years that I’ve been a professor here at UC Davis Medical School. It feels like home. I enjoy teaching our first-year medical students each year. Some end up doing research in my lab. Our school recently got a nice write-up over at STAT News by Usha Lee McFarling on the diversity

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Weekly reads: oocytes from males, David Sinclair longevity inc, diabetes, He Jiankui

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David Sinclair

A team led by Harvard professor David Sinclair had a recent Cell paper on reprogramming to fight aging that I reviewed here on The Niche. I thought the paper was exciting and important. Note that in vivo reprogramming was first done more than a decade ago. Sinclair did have a novel fast-forward aging method and overall

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Review of where Kimera Labs fits into sphere of exosome companies

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Kimera labs exosome

Today’s post takes a close look at the exosome manufacturer Kimera Labs in the context of the main exosome companies. What are exosomes? Exosomes are microscopic bubbles or vesicles produced by cells. Exosomes contain many cellular substances that are biologically active. Some of these materials may be helpful clinically, while others could pose risks. Clinical outcomes

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Weekly reads: human CRISPR, MRT risks, private IRBs, skincare

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David Liu, human CRISPR

It’s funny how sometimes there are many new articles about one general topic like this week with heritable (and somatic) human CRISPR gene editing and related tech.  There are clear reasons for optimism in the somatic arena given advancing trials. Germline editing remains highly questionable in my view even just technically. Then there are loads

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Does NurOwn from BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics still provide hope for ALS?

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Chaim Lebovits, CEO of BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics.

What is the cell therapy for ALS called NurOwn? How strong is its potential as a treatment for ALS? I’ve been following the biotech BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics for many years. Patients keep asking me about NurOwn ALS prospects. They’re looking for hope. Today’s post is a close look at NurOwn and at BrainStorm as a

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