How should we view biohackers and their DIY use of CRISPR outside of the traditional industry or academic lab environment? Introduction to “Biohackers” and DIY CRISPR Who are biohackers exactly? They are people who “hack” their own biology by transforming their bodies through the insertion of technology or modification of their DNA. More rarely, biohackers […]
Perspectives on Biohackers and DIY CRISPR Read More »
Why is former Texas Governor/Trump Energy Secretary Rick Perry plugging unproven stem cells from a clinic firm called Celltex for COVID-19 prevention on Fox News? Perry follows in Giuliani’s footsteps? And more generally, what is it with conservative politicians promoting unproven therapies for COVID-19 and in particular stem cells for the novel coronavirus disease? First,
Rick Perry plugs Celltex MSCs on Fox for COVID-19 prevention Read More »
It can be kind of a big deal when politicians, especially at the federal level, write the FDA about stem cells. Is this going to be good news or bad? Some combination? I tend to worry that some senators or representatives might pressure the FDA to weaken oversight. However, lately it seems like the opposite
Congress pushes FDA on stem cell clinic mess in new letter Read More »
Maybe the announcement that Commissioner Scott Gottlieb will be leaving the FDA soon shouldn’t have caught us all off-guard, but it did. Gottlieb isn’t a perfect Commissioner, but he brought a sensible, open approach to running the FDA that was very refreshing. Amongst all the top leadership in the Trump administration, Scott Gottlieb stood out
Scott Gottlieb leaving FDA: possible reasons, impact on stem cell field, & more Read More »
At the request of the FDA, the DOJ is suing for permanent injunctions against two stem cell clinic firms, U.S. Stem Cell, Inc. and California Stem Cell Treatment Center (and for the latter, its parent chain of around 100 clinics, Cell Surgical Network). What does this big development mean in practical terms and how might it
Helpful Zettler insights from Q&A on FDA suits against stem cell clinics Read More »
I’ve got some TGIF recommend reads on stem cells, etc, but first, what a week, right? We need more action on preventing gun violence. It’s a uniquely American health crisis that doesn’t have to be. There’s no real, common sense reason that gun control can’t reduce mass killings of our kids and others like the
TGIF: Guns, stem cells, science weekends reads & good news Read More »
The votes are in and the community has picked its top 10 Stem Cell Person of the Year Award finalists. Both the 20 nominees and now the 10 finalists are a diverse group. The finalists include six women and four men, from five countries and four different continents. We also got votes from readers of the blog
10 Stem Cell Person of the Year Award Finalists 2017 Read More »
Nominations are now open for the 2017 Stem Cell Person of the Year Award, which will be our sixth such award. You can leave nominations as comments on this post or email them to me (see my email on our Contact page). The Stem Cell Person of the Year Award is an honor I give out
Stem Cell Person of the Year 2017 Award: Nominations Open Read More »
Is there a stem cell connection between the brain and aging? Could a type of brain stem cell or the exosomes it secretes control whole body aging? A recent big Nature article from the lab of Dongcheng Cai argues an emphatic “Yes” to these questions, at least in mice. In the Zhang, et al paper, entitled
Review of Nature paper: stem cell exosomes on the brain and aging Read More »
I received a score of great nominations for the Stem Cell Person of the Year 2016 Award and have briefly described the twenty nominees below. The point of the award is to honor the top positive stem cell leader who specifically thinks outside the box and takes risks. I’ve started an on-line vote where you can vote once per day for
20 Nominees for Stem Cell Person of the Year 2016 Award Read More »