The 21st Century Cures Act has some important provisions that would impact the stem cell and regenerative medicine field. What is driving these efforts is a widespread sense that the status quo of regenerative medicine oversight isn’t working very well. I’m talking with key stakeholders and still trying to sort out my thoughts on the […]
Perspectives on Cures Act stem cell provisions possible benefits & risks Read More »
Concerns over stem cell clinics allegedly causing blindness or other vision problems have been increasing in 2016. If this is in fact happening, the extra sad part of this is that some clinics have claimed that they are doing the opposite: improving vision in patients. What are the concerns? Earlier this year a publicly-traded stem
2nd lawsuit alleging a U.S. stem cell clinic caused blindness Read More »
Rainbow stem cell clones. From Scientific Reports: NF-kappaΒ-inducing kinase regulates stem cell phenotype in breast cancer. How to harvest stem cells from teeth Stem Cell Transplant Startup With Harvard Tech, Magenta Therapeutics, Gets $48.5M Neurogenic Radial Glia-like Cells in Meninges Migrate and Differentiate into Functionally Integrated Neurons in the Neonatal Cortex (from Cell Stem Cell). Researchers Grow Functioning Human Intestines, Nerves Using Stem
A feast of post-Thanksgiving stem cell news bites Read More »
I’m hearing more questions from the community about alleged harm from stem cell clinics selling stem cells for a number of vision-related conditions and some concerns include the so-called SCOTS study. I first blogged about SCOTS early this year and back then I myself had questions too. Some commenters then raised concerns or questions about SCOTS in
SCOTS Study on Stem Cells for Vision: Still Questions as Patient Alleges Harm Read More »
The FDA caused major controversy by approving the drug Exondys 51 from Sarepta Therapeutics for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy over the recommendations of a scientific panel it convened that had voted 7-3 against approval. Is this contentious Sarepta approval serve as a sign of how the FDA will deal with stem cells moving forward? Will the FDA approval, which
Internal FDA Fighting on Sarepta Bad Omen for Stem Cell Oversight? Read More »
The money behind a piece of legislation can provide unique insights into the back story and this is definitely true for the REGROW Act that would reduce FDA oversight of the investigational use of stem cells in patients. Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois, who is facing probable defeat next week in his reelection bid according to
REGROW Act, Mark Kirk Lobbying & Contributions Yield Stem Cell Surprises Read More »
By Samantha Yammine, PhD Candidate in Derek van der Kooy’s lab at the University of Toronto. See tweets live from #TMM2016 via @SamanthaZY here. Last week, 430 Canadian scientists, trainees, industry professionals, science communicators and international guests gathered in the picturesque ski town of Whistler, British Columbia for the annual Till & McCulloch meeting (TMM).
Do we own our cells? Do we have some intrinsic right to them once they are outside our bodies? One of the arguments I hear most often from physicians at stem cell clinics and some clinic patients is that patients have an inherent right to ownership and almost unlimited use of their own stem cells, but over
Our bodies, not our cells? Read More »
It’s been an odd experience having a local stem cell clinic, called Nervana, here in Sacramento to watch in terms of how they handle things such as advertising. I’ve also heard quite a lot from people within our community asking about Nervana. Now the business is selling non-FDA approved stem cell therapies in San Diego
Sacramento Nervana stem cell clinic spreads to San Diego Read More »
Patients contact me all the time these days asking about American stem cell clinics. The most common question boils down to “should I get a treatment at clinic X and what things should I think about in trying to make this decision?” I recommend checking out my stem cell treatment guide for patients. In addition,
The car shopping analogy for evaluating stem cell clinics Read More »