Search Results for: peer review

Nature yanks article that was actually advertisement on controversial stem cells

Muse-cell-ad-on-Nature

Something very strange just happened at the journal Nature related to what’s called Muse cells. Kudos to them for dealing with it quickly though. They published an unreviewed research “article” on controversial (perhaps non-existent) stem cells called “Muse cells” that was actually a paid advertisement. After I communicated with the Nature team eventually they ended up …

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New lawsuit includes big stem cell clinic chain, Cell Surgical Network

Walraven-Cell-Surgical-Network

Does a new lawsuit including Cell Surgical Network and its leadership as defendants pose a broad test to this entire chain of stem cell clinics, which may be the largest such affiliated clinic group in the U.S. and potentially even in the world? Will lawsuits substantially impact stem cell clinics? Lawsuits against unproven, for-profit stem cell …

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Grading 3 stem cell media reports on clinical science: vision, MS, & paralysis

Rosenzweig-et-al-Nature-Medicine-2018-part-of-Fig.-1

What is stem cell media? When us scientists hear the phrase “stem cell media” we usually think about the liquid food that we feed our stem cells in the lab, which resembles a kind of nutrient-rich Kool-aid, but another kind of stem cell media consists of the news coverage of stem cells. This other kind …

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Predatory clinics push stem cell secret society, deep state conspiracy theory

conspiracy-theory-stem-cells-deep-state-e1516141862445

Did you hear the one about the deep state FDA, big pharma stem cell conspiracy theory? This is the phony idea that the FDA, big pharma, and, heck, sometimes even certain academics (who could that be?) are plotting together as some kind of biomedical secret society or “deep state” to block promising stem cell therapies …

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Sentinel Takes Investigational Deep Dive into Florida Stem Cell Clinic Soup

Stem-cells-Florida-California-

When you think of Florida, what else crosses your mind first? Orange juice? Heat and humidity? Beaches? Disney? I don’t know if this says more about me or the state, but these days I think of stem cells. Florida and California are the two biggest hotbeds of the for-profit stem cell clinic world, each with …

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TGIF: Stem cell and science weekend reads

electricity-stem-cells

A list of stuff for your weekend reading enjoyment ranging from research pubs to news to commentary. Electrical Stimulation Steers Neural Stem Cells. Way to go UC Davis team; see image at right. Stem cell therapies: medical experts call for strict international rules. A team calls for global efforts. Stem cells in court: historical trends in US …

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Burt Northwestern Stem Cell MS Trial Part 3: Funding, Patient Perspectives, & the Future

Stem-cells-for-MS-trial-concerns-e1493137263166

Today’s post is the last of a three-part series on the Burt stem cell trials at Northwestern. This piece is focused on funding and the future of the trial, and also includes perspectives from patients. You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here, which focused on issues related to potential encouragement of patient fundraising that unintentionally releases …

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Burt Northwestern Stem Cell MS Trial Part 2: Marketing ‘Cure’-Like Outcomes?

stem-cells-MS-Northwestern-University

Can science now cure MS in some patients with stem cells or is that near on the horizon? What about stem cells for other serious autoimmune disorders? What are the risks to patients in terms of health, money, and hope? What if patients must find $100,000 or $200,000 just to get into a clinical trial for …

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Navigating 4 key kinds of stem cell studies

kinds-of-stem-cells

Over the years and in particular after Dr. Oz’s show a couple weeks ago, I’ve heard from many patients who are absolutely convinced that stem cell therapies do in fact work and are safe. They have been focused particularly on hematopoietic stem cell therapy (HSCT) for MS but also other investigational applications using a variety of stem …

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Cell Surgical Network, largest group of US clinics, using lab-expanded stem cells in patients?

Elliot-Lander-Mark-Berman

Is the largest affiliated group of stem cell clinics in America, Cell Surgical Network, now using laboratory-proliferated stem cells in patients? Do they already have some kind of final FDA approval for this clinical approach given that lab-grown stem cells are generally viewed as drugs requiring premarket approval? Over the years I’ve reached out to …

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