Today’s post is on the lighter side with some humor on funny autocorrect fails related to science. It’s surprising sometimes how far certain tools can lag behind cutting-edge science. Spellcheck tools are useful, of course, but they don’t always know what to do with STEM words. The same is true of tools like Grammarly, although it …
Funny autocorrect fails in STEM: the gremlin organdy fiasco Read More »
I’m working to send out a big grant on Tuesday so I’m busier than ever but a few stem cell and regenerative medicine stories caught my eye. I can’t write grants 24/7 without a few breaks although sometimes it feels like that’s what I’m doing. Bat stem cell derivation Pluripotent bat stem cells as a …
Weekly stem cell reads: bat stem cells, brainier organoids, more Read More »
A new stem cells for ALS treatment trial represents a big step forward. It’s early days still but this trial shows feasibility and provides a helpful foundation for moving forward. It also highlights challenges. The work is from a team led by Clive Svendsen. Stem cells for ALS treatment trial Here’s the study. Transplantation of …
It was a shock to learn today that New York Stem Cell Foundation CEO and Co-Founder Susan Solomon had passed away yesterday after a long battle with ovarian cancer. I met Susan a few times over the years and was always struck by her positive energy. At a practical level she got big things done …
Tributes to NYSCF leader & stem cell advocate Susan Solomon Read More »
In a ruling that could turn FDA stem cell clinic oversight on its head, Federal District Court Judge Jesus Bernal last night ruled in favor of the stem cell clinic chain Cell Surgical Network and other defendants. The FDA had been seeking permanent injunction against them. Here’s the court ruling. Drs. Mark Berman and Elliot …
Judge drops a bomb on FDA in Cell Surgical Network stem cell clinic case Read More »
I have a soft spot for fibroblasts, perhaps because one of the first immortalized cell lines I ever grew was NIH3T3. These are mouse fibroblasts that have been immortalized. They are very useful for a variety of experiments. I used them to study an oncogene called E2A-PBX1. Experience with fibroblasts including 3T3s I was amazed …
Weekly reads: fibroblasts, gene-editing, Mitalipov, personhood, embryos Read More »
I took a cross-country road trip earlier this month that was pretty amazing and barely thought about stem cell research for the first time in years. We did run across one stem cell clinic in Florida by accident. I’ll write about that trip soon, but first we have our weekly reads including some very cool …
Weekly stem cell reads: space, plagiarism, HIV, diabetes, more Read More »
I’ve had concerns about an American unproven clinic firm called R3 Stem Cell for many years. They sell unproven stem cell-related “treatments” via dozens of affiliated locations. I put quotes around treatments because in my view there is no good evidence here for claims of treating numerous serious illnesses. The goal of today’s post is …
Fact-checking troubling R3 Stem Cell clinic chain Read More »
How does one go about cheating death? As I get older, fighting aging seems more relevant. Having battled a potentially fatal cancer also gave me a taste of mortality. In biomedical research, it seems like living longer has become an obsession for some recently. Cheating death with cell therapies or other regenerative approaches? Could stem …
Cheating death via regenerative medicine or stem cells? Read More »
The regular emails and phone calls I get from patients asking questions about stem cell therapy are a powerful reminder of the fact that research in our field can be very personal. Sometimes individuals who receive experimental stem cell therapy (or other cell therapies) and seem to have a positive outcome can end up becoming …