Here we discuss the most taboo topics in science. Get ready for some straight talk in this no-B.S. zone. Taboo topics about iPS cells Dirty dozen easy steps to killing a paper Scientist’s guide to insulting other scientists Followed by insults 2.0 that was a post including even nastier science insults Top 10 reasons that scientists leave their …
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 …
Celltex has issued a press release (PR), entitled “Company Pioneering Regenerative Medicine Services Invited FDA to Inspect Lab” on their FDA audit in response to the reaction in the media and stem cell community about it. I view this PR as a step in the right direction–more openness! There is a lot of info in …
It’s only Wednesday and it’s already been a big, bumpy week for Texas stem cell company, Celltex. On Monday, the FDA report of their two-week visit to/audit of Celltex became public thanks to the efforts of Dr. Leigh Turner and Houston Chronicle reporter, Todd Ackerman. Now there is more complicated news for the company. A …
The upcoming movie The Amazing Spider-Man with Emma Stone looks to be pretty cool and I’m not even a fan of Spider-Man. However, making me even more interested in it are the rumors that stem cells are part of the plot. Some folks view stem cells as superheroes able to cure almost anything including COVID-19, but …
Emma Stone dishes on spiderman and stem cells: very cool! Read More »
Medulloblastoma is the most common pediatric brain tumor. However, treatments for children who are diagnosed with so-called medullos have not evolved much over the years and are largely similar to treatments given to adults for other brain tumors. One frequent event in certain medullos is amplification of two members of the MYC family of oncogenes …
New medulloblastoma paper suggests novel avenues to treat this childhood cancer Read More »
As I first reported, the FDA conducted a two-week audit of Texas adult stem cell firm, Celltex, sometime in April. Today I received a copy of the so-called “483 report” of that audit. It is basically a summary of problematic issues that the FDA says need to addressed. The FDA report is cause for some …
Surprising FDA audit report of Celltex a blow to dubious stem cell clinics Read More »
Celltex is an adult stem cell company in the great state of Texas that reportedly has produced adult stem cell products used for the treatment of more than 100 patients with stem cells. We don’t know much about Celltex (e.g. it has no website), but I was hoping to change that in part via a …
Last year one of the biggest events in the stem cell field was biotech Geron punting its embryonic stem cell (ESC) program. Much consternation followed. Some folks opposed to ESCs happily pronounced ESC research dead. Some folks in favor of ESC thought the world was ending a year early. Others tried to look on the …
The stem cell gestalt of Geron Goodbye and the future of ACT Read More »
The International Cellular Medicine Society (ICMS) is viewed somewhat skeptically by the stem cell community, but they are undeniably an important player in the stem cell world. A few weeks ago I interviewed ICMS President, Dr. Ricardo Rodriguez (see interview here), and then I provided recommendations here to the ICMS to improve their organization including a less adversarial …
ICMS posts 483 report of FDA audit: still awaiting news on Celltex Read More »