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 …
One of the problems in the stem cell field is that so few doctors have adequate training in stem cells (biology, transplantation, regulatory issues, GMP, ethics, patient rights, etc) and yet they are treating loads of patients in a for-profit setting. This not puts patients at great risk, but also the physicians themselves are putting …
After a couple of years blogging about stem cells here, I decided to direct some of my writing effort toward a book on stem cells. I started this project with the publisher last summer and I am happy to report that the book should be coming out later this year some time. I just sent …
Two emerging acronyms in the for-profit stem cell world that remain unknown to most academic stem cell scientists, but that are generating the most buzz are: SVF and CAL. These are two fat acronyms. What? These acronyms relate to adipose (fat) stem cell-based procedures. SVF stands for “stromal vascular fraction”. SVF is, for lack of …
SVF & CAL are two fat stem cell acronyms generating a lot of buzz Read More »
I recently had a phone interview with Dr. Arnold Caplan, the founder of the MSC field. You can read parts 1 and 2 of the interview here and here. Today’s post, part 3, is focused on clinical use of MSCs. I want to start off today’s post with a wonderful quote from Caplan: “All MSCs …
I have a new resource page up on the blog that includes links to most of the important stem cell legal decisions and the documents involved. You might call it a stem cell lawyer’s Nirvana page, but I think educators, doctors, scientists, patients, and others will also find it quite useful. If you know of …
Below are links to specific court documents and filings in stem cell-related legal proceedings. (I’ve also placed in parentheses links to my posts/analysis on these). Enjoy, especially you lawyers and investors. It’s a work in progress so expect more cases and documents to appear. In fact, if you have suggested additions please add them (plus …
It may come as an annoyance or surprise to some folks in the non-compliant stem cell clinic world that there are laws, rules, and licensing involved in giving stem cell transplants to patients. (To be clear here, this post is focused on clinics transplanting propagated stem cell drug therapies that the FDA views as more …
You want sauerkraut on those stem cells? Defining the term “unlicensed” stem cell clinic Read More »
Would you want a GI specialist doing your heart surgery? How about a radiologist doing your brain surgery? I wouldn’t. So why then do so many patients accept that the doctor doing their stem cell transplant has no training in that area? I’m doing a series on eight simple reasons not to get an unlicensed …
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 …