If there was one stem cell meeting I would absolutely not want to miss next month in November if at all possible, it is the 2013 World Alliance Forum “Future of Stem Cells” in San Francisco. Are you going? Win free tickets to this meeting here! Unfortunately I have a conflict so I will this […]
World Alliance Forum “Future of Stem Cells” features Shinya Yamanaka Read More »
Is a treatment based on stem cells for Parkinson’s Disease on the horizon? A Japanese team of researchers led by Dr. Jun Takahashi, professor at Kyoto University is reportedly aiming to start on human studies of an induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-based treatment for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) as early as fiscal year (FY) 2014. In
Trial of Stem Cells for Parkinson’s Disease on Horizon Read More »
Yesterday’s report of human therapeutic cloning to make embryonic stem (ES) cell lines is a big deal. I support the work and I believe it is very important. People’s reactions to it vary wildly depending on their agendas of course. This post is a no-nonsense overview of the main points. My overall point. This is
5 human therapeutic cloning talking points dissected Read More »
I finally got a chance to read the Cell paper by the Melton team on Betatrophin and it is quite cool. Update — Unfortunately the Betatrophin paper discussed here originally back in 2013 has now largely been proven to have come to incorrect conclusions (for more read this). I think one big question is whether
More on Betatrophin, my take on the Cell paper, and a video Read More »
UPDATE: Unfortunately the Betatrophin paper discussed here originally back in 2013 has now largely been proven to have come to incorrect conclusions (for more read this). Today Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) reported the discovery, in a paper in Cell by Harvard Professor Doug Melton, of a powerful new hormone called Betatrophin that can stimulate
Doug Melton Betatrophin Discovery Points to Future Diabetes Treatment? Read More »
I’ve been fortunate to interview some of the greats in the stem cell field for this blog and host debates between key players. Please note that just because I have interviewed folks does not mean I agree with them or that they agree with me. The point is to establish dialogue on key issues. As
Interviews with leaders and top players in the stem cell field Read More »
The FDA is faced with years of a static budget and a rapidly growing stem cell and cell therapy for-profit sector. It also faces criticisms (some that it has acknowledged are legit) from certain folks in the stem cell field. If you could change just one thing about the FDA in terms of its oversight
What Would be Your #1 Top FDA Reform on Stem Cells? Take our poll Read More »
Allan Robins of Viacyte (pictured at left–sorry for the fuzzy image) and Paul Simmons of Mesoblast presented this morning at the CIRM Grantee Meeting. Both talks were outstanding. Robins went first. He started by saying how Viacyte had a productive pre-IND meeting with the FDA last year. I believe a target for them is to
Viacyte & Mesoblast present at CIRM Meeting Read More »
It is always exciting when a biomedical technology as revolutionary as iPS cells is on the cusp of being used in patients for the first time. In the last few days stories have reported about how a proposed clinical trial based on iPS cells has completed several regulatory steps and is closer to starting. This
A big issue in the stem cell field is that firms increasingly are doing business in multiple countries. Associated with the increasingly international nature of the stem cell for-profit industry are emerging legal and ethical issues related to the transport of stem cell-based biological drugs across international borders. Think you can just FedEx human stem