Stem cell biotech BioTime announced the news today that its subsidiary Cell Cure Neurosciences (Cell Cure) has filed an IND with the FDA for an embryonic stem (ES) cell-based therapy for Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The product to be tested is OpRegen, which the company indicates is “the first IND for an ES cell-based […]
BioTime Cell Cure Files IND with FDA for ES cell AMD therapy Read More »
Before the two STAP cell papers were published in Nature in January of 2014, much of the same data was reportedly submitted as single papers to other high-profile journals including Science. In these cases, the proto-STAP papers as we might call them were rejected. But why? Until now we largely could only speculate. However, the reviews
Full Reviews of Rejected STAP Paper Point to Early Signs of Big Trouble Read More »
Nikkei is reporting that the RIKEN internal attempt to replicate so-called STAP (acid bath) cells has failed. Update: apparently, although RIKEN calls the efforts preliminary, the team tried to make STAP an amazing 22 times and 22 times it failed. The rumors for weeks in the stem cell gapevine that RIKEN itself could not get
RIKEN fails to reproduce STAP, big CDB shake up expected Read More »
Who is trying, via the name BioGatekeeper, Inc., to nullify Yamanaka’s patent on cellular reprogramming to produce induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells? The readers of this blog never cease to amaze me. What an informed, energetic, bright group. Within just days they may have collectively shed some light on an intriguing mystery in the stem cell field surrounding the
Blog readers investigate BioGatekeeper, the Yamanaka patent challenger Read More »
A new patent dispute has exploded in the stem cell field related to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. What’s going on? In 2006, Shinya Yamanaka reported cellular reprogramming to create mouse induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells in Cell and the next year multiple groups along with Yamanaka’s reported creating human iPS cells. It’s no exaggeration
Challenge tries to cancel Yamanaka iPS cell patent Read More »
The stem cell field has seen quite a few high-profile, intriguing papers on induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Which do you think is the iPS cell paper of the year for 2013? The iPS cell field continues to advance rapidly. If you think one not listed is the best, let us know in the comments.
iPS cell paper of the year 2013: cast your vote Read More »
What is “radically deterministic” cellular reprogramming? Jacob Hanna’s lab recently published a very high profile Nature paper on nearly 100% efficient iPS cell formation based on targeting a factor called Mbd3. This super efficiency is a major departure from past reported efficiencies. This morning here at the Till & McCulloch Stem Cell Meeting in Banff,
Jacob Hanna on Radically Deterministic Reprogramming @TMM2013 Read More »
¿Qué son las células madre? (2021 update: note that this post is part of our stem cells not lost in translation project: please see here for 34 other languages. This post also addresses another common question, “what are stem cells for?” in Spanish: para que sirven las celulas madres? El cuerpo humano contiene cientos
¿Qué son las células madre? Read More »
Let’s putting on our “thinking caps”….er, extra brains, get our geek on, and have some fun imagining where stem cell technology may lead us in the coming century. Unhappy with the one brain you have? Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a 2nd one too? A new one? Researchers have grown mini brain-like structures from
What would you do with an extra brain? Read More »
I’ve been researching the issue of how intellectual property (IP) and patents to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell will influence the field. It’s a complicated, worrisome picture in terms of getting this technology to patients to help them. I’m concerned there may be an all out patent war. Even for those who do not go
Sky’s the limit on iPS cell licensure cost from Academia Japan Read More »