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Some 2012 papers that raise serious safety concerns about adult stem cell treatments

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Just how safe are stem cell transplants? Is an autologous stem cell transplant always safe? Is it really true, as one stem cell transplant doc once said of autologous stem cell treatments, that “the worst thing that could happen is the treatment won’t work”? Are adult stem cell treatments by definition safe? The reality is […]

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Taboo topics about iPS cells: updated for 2013

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elephant-in-the-lab-covid-19-lab-ramp-up

I’m doing this series called “The Elephant in the Lab” where I discuss controversial or taboo laboratory topics that people are usually too afraid to publicly discuss.  I started with iPS cells (for a description and definition of iPS cells go here) and now have updated this post for 2013 because the field is changing rapidly. iPS

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Barbra Streisand: stem cell advocate

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Yesterday I was visiting L.A. and happened by the Walk of Fame, seeing many stars including the one of Barbra Streisand (below). Streisand has been doing interviews (see article here ) for both TV and newspapers regarding her advocacy for heart disease research for women. Interestingly, this interest of Streisand’s directly involves stem cells according to

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Reporters & sci-writers guide to interviewing stem cell clinics: key questions

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More and more often I find myself chatting with reporters and science writers about stem cells. They want to know more for background on articles on topics ranging from core stem cell scientific issues to stem cell clinics. Over time I’ve realized I’ve been telling reporters and science writers some consistent things that amount to

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Advanced Cell Technology (ACTC) announces plan to make iPS cell-derived platelets: some thoughts

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Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) is well into clinical trials for macular degeneration (the leading cause of blindness) using human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-based retinal pigmented epithelial cells (RPE). To date, the trials suggest the products are safe. Efficacy? We don’t know. I am cautiously hopeful, but it is frustrating to know that most clinical trials

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More on new UC Logo: UC official response, petition, and almost uniformly negative reactions

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The University of California (UC), a truly wonderful organization, seems to have made a misstep with its new logo. Below on the left is the old logo and on the right is the new logo. I did a poll here that got a huge response on what people thought the new symbol represented. Just 2%

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