One of my inspirations as a stem cell blogger was the pioneering Nature blog, the Niche. I was disappointed when it ended in 2009, but it still is a model of what excellence in science blogging is all about. In this piece today, I interview the co-Founder of the Niche, Dr. Natalie DeWitt. DeWitt now […]
Interview with Natalie DeWitt, Founder of Nature’s pioneering stem cell blog, the Niche Read More »
Here on The Niche I’m giving out a Stem Cell Person of the Year Award for 2012 along with all my other annual awards (e.g. best stem cell journal, paper, blog, comic, activist, etc). 2020 update: you can see future winners of the award here. The Person of the Year winner will get recognition for
Stem Cell Person of the Year Finalists: time to vote Read More »
The Texas Tribune held a liveblog regarding Health & Human Services at festival they were sponsoring. A particularly testy, interesting exchange on stem cells occurred (see starting around 2:51PM) involving Andrea Ferrenz of Celltex and Dr. Leigh Turner of University of Minnesota as well as Texas State Rep. Rick Hardcastle and David Bales of Texans
Stem cell shootout at the Texas Trib Festival including Celltex Read More »
Francisco Morales and Lawrence Stowe, have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to dubious stem cell treatments. The pair pled guilty to conspiracy charges related to introducing “misbranded and unapproved new drugs into interstate commerce”. The drugs in question? Stem cells. Patrick J. Holland of the FDA said “the FDA is committed to investigating those
Stem cell frauds Morales and Stowe plead guilty to federal charges: who’s next? Read More »
There was a burst of feeling last night in the stem cell community as word began circulating that a federal court had ruled in favor of the FDA defining manipulated stem cell products as drugs. However, not everyone was pleased with the court ruling. The clinics most directly affected by the ruling were understandably upset,
Refuting potential downsides to stem cell drug court ruling Read More »
As I’ve been writing this blog for the last couple years it has served as a catalyst for me to meet dozens of really interesting people. One such person is Lee Buckler, a true stem cell industry guru. Given all the complex events of late in the stem cell field, I asked Lee if he
Great interview with Lee Buckler on stem cell industry, regulatory issues, and Celltex Read More »
A rumor is now going around that some dubious stem cell docs and clinics are likely to get visits from the FBI soon! The FDA, which has just recently issued a couple warning letters (here and here), potentially together with the FBI, may be poised to take more decisive action in the near future in the next
Stem cell grapevine: FBI readying to take more action against dubious clinics & docs Read More »
I’m a stem cell researcher and I’m very excited about the potential of stem cell therapies, but my excitement is mostly directed to the future. I’m also a cancer survivor and I know what it is like to get a grave diagnosis and how important hope is and sometimes patients and their families need hope
Balancing hope and danger with dubious stem cell treatments: a report from Canada Read More »
As a stem cell researcher and blogger, I hear an earful from ultra-conservatives and GOPers all the time about how immoral or unethical embryonic stem cell research is. Some even haphazardly like to call anyone who works on stem cells names. I also see articles in conservative media outlets like the National Review attacking embryonic
It was only a few weeks ago that I reported that the federal government would very soon be taking more legal action against purveyors of dubious, potentially illegal stem cell treatments that might even be called a stem cell scam. Here’s the first of what is likely to be many more actions. Many media outlets
Doctor indicted in Vegas for alleged fake stem cell scam Read More »