I know. I know. Scientists are not supposed to publicly talk about the question of when life begins and about death, but these are kind of important things to talk about and think about, don’t you think? I do. So here goes…. It’s been a very intense, crazy few weeks for me and for many …
Is it worth it to do stem cell banking? When I was a kid I remember hearing about people having themselves frozen or even just their heads frozen shortly after death. The idea was to cheat mortality by preserving oneself or critical parts of oneself until some future date when scientists and doctors would have …
Cryogenics to stem cell banking: time for deposit? Read More »
What kind of laugh do you have and what kind of laugher are you? Chuckler? Giggler? Belly laugher? Quiet? Loud? Cry when you laugh? Can’t breathe when you laugh hard? Why do we laugh in the first place? There is actually a field of study of laughter called Gelotology, but despite this scientists do not really …
The science of laughing: what one’s laugh says about you, our Presidents, & Mitt Romney Read More »
I keep seeing these eerie parallels between thalidomide & dubious stem cell treatments. What’s the first rule of medicine again? Do no harm! Rushing new medicines such as stem cell treatments to patients without appropriate preliminary studies to try to make money is like playing Russian Roulette with patients. Some of the time, everything will …
Eerie parallels between thalidomide & dubious stem cell treatments Read More »
Today there is an editorial piece in the WSJ about the recent court ruling giving the FDA authority to regulate stem cells grown in culture as drugs. As a stem cell scientist, I read this opinion piece with interest. Unfortunately it is behind a paywall, but I have outlined and discussed the key issues below. …
WSJ editorial on issue of stem cells as drugs misses the boat Read More »
Tagalog Translation Ano ba ang mga stem cells? Ang katawan ng tao ay puno ng daang-daang uri ng selula, bawat isa’y importante sa pang araw-araw na gawain. Ang mga selulang ito ay responsable sa iba’t ibang mahahalagang proseso nang ating pangangatawan tulad nang pagtibok ng ating puso, pag-iisip, paglilinis nang ating dugo, pagpapalit ng selula …
Clinicaltrials.gov is where you want to go for finding a certain clinical trial and studies. Note that this U.S. database Clinicaltrials.gov includes international trials. It is a very powerful tool! Check it out here to do your own searches. Also follow me on Twitter for all the latest info and expert analysis: http://twitter.com/pknoepfler and this patient’s …
Tool to easily search for a stem cell clinical trial for your disease Read More »
Should I get a stem cell treatment? I regularly get contacted by patients considering dubious stem cell treatments, asking me that question. They want advice and have many questions. Most of them are seriously considering stem cell treatments because they have an illness that today’s “modern” medicine cannot help. Tens of millions of people are …
Stem cells grown in culture are drugs. Agree or disagree? I believe it is a correct statement. I don’t think it is even a question any more as it was a few months ago. Yes, I am convinced that the FDA, as supported by a recent federal court ruling, has it right that growing stem …
2 decades as cell biologist tell me grown stem cells are drugs 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 »