Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. is a publicly traded (NASDAQ) biotech Israeli company that is developing stem cell treatments based on the use of expanded placental stem cells called PLX cells. The Pluristem PLX drug is not approved for treating patients at this time in any country, however Pluristem has treated a handful of patients via something …
Money and stem cell ‘miracles’: Pluristem questioned on ethics Read More »
Japan’s biggest daily newspaper, Yomiuri Shimbun, made international news when it reported a few days ago that iPS cells had been transplanted into human patients by Hisashi Moriguchi. In this morning’s paper, Yomiuri Shimbun issued a painful front page admission (happily reported by competing paper The Asahi Shimbun) of publishing false information about the alleged transplants, which …
I’m writing an R01 now for the Oct. 5 deadline and not enjoying it. You think perhaps that’s an understatement? I’ve lost track of how many grant proposals I’ve submitted in the last 6 years, but if there ever was any thrill, the thrill is long gone. I seem to vaguely remember I used to …
What’s the worst, most tortuous part of the grant application process? Take our poll Read More »
Please support the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act. It’s in Jerry Brown’s hands now. This will take 1 minute of your time and make a world of difference. How to get in touch? You may contact Governor Jerry Brown by mail at: Governor Jerry Brown, c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173, Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) …
Please tell Guv Jerry Brown to sign the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Research Act Read More »
Why are some scientists so inept socially and end up in struggles interacting with other people? Kindergarten! Yes, my theory is that many of the key events are traceable to kindergarten and more specifically to what future scientists failed to learn then even if they technically passed the class and moved on to first grade. …
What kind of laugh do you have and what kind of laugher are you? Chuckler? Giggler? Belly laugher? Quiet? Loud? Cry when you laugh? Can’t breathe when you laugh hard? Why do we laugh in the first place? There is actually a field of study of laughter called Gelotology, but despite this scientists do not really …
The science of laughing: what one’s laugh says about you, our Presidents, & Mitt Romney Read More »
All science, whether biology or physics, whether microscopic or at the solar system level, is about experiments. Sometimes we as a society forget that. In fact, experiments are at the heart of investigations as diverse as studying cells to exploring space to medical treatments. For NASA, the last week has been a tale of two …
NASA’s wickedly up & down week: broader lessons about science & medicine Read More »
Clinicaltrials.gov is where you want to go for finding a certain clinical trial and studies. Note that this U.S. database Clinicaltrials.gov includes international trials. It is a very powerful tool! Check it out here to do your own searches. Also follow me on Twitter for all the latest info and expert analysis: http://twitter.com/pknoepfler and this patient’s …
Tool to easily search for a stem cell clinical trial for your disease Read More »
What to start a blog? With my concise advice below, you should be ready to get started. I say, “Go for it!” I know there are quite a lot of people interested in starting to blog, but perhaps a bit uncertain or even intimidated by the idea. I think this is especially true amongst scientists. …
I’m discussing the seamier side of science in a seven part series on what I call scientific sinning or the “seven sins of scientists”. The first four pieces in this series really stoked a great deal of interest and debate, covering Failure to Cite, Paper or grant killing, Need for Speed, and hype. Today in the fifth installment …