Here on The Niche I’m giving out a Stem Cell Person of the Year Award for 2012 along with all my other annual awards (e.g. best stem cell journal, paper, blog, comic, activist, etc). 2020 update: you can see future winners of the award here. The Person of the Year winner will get recognition for […]
Stem Cell Person of the Year Finalists: time to vote Read More »
Every year I give out a number of awards (See 2010 and 2011 awards here). I usually do them all in one post, but this year I’m doing them mostly in separate posts. This is the first post for 2012 awards and this is for Stem Cell Journal of the Year 2012. Some brief background is in order. Last
Stem cell journal of the year 2012: Cell Stem Cell Read More »
Often on this blog I focus on challenges or problems in the stem cell universe, but sometimes it is important to focus on the good news and 2012 had much of that. There are more stem cell-based clinical trials than ever before and there is good reason to believe that many FDA-approved stem cell products
The good news about stem cells for 2012 Read More »
So far in my series of eight simple reasons not to get an unlicensed stem cell treatment I’ve covered three compelling reasons: potential loss of insurance coverage for negative outcomes that could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, failure of patient follow up by the doctors and clinics, and exclusion from future clinical trial participation.
Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) is well into clinical trials for macular degeneration (the leading cause of blindness) using human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-based retinal pigmented epithelial cells (RPE). To date, the trials suggest the products are safe. Efficacy? We don’t know. I am cautiously hopeful, but it is frustrating to know that most clinical trials
Every now and then a paper on stem cells lands many international headlines and also captures people’s imaginations. This seems to be the case for the recent urine stem cell paper from a team in China, which has made huge headlines. In addition to mainstream media, the paper was covered in Wired here and also by one
Why did urine stem cell paper create global media sensation? Read More »
Have I got a stem cell for you! We hear a lot about the dangers of an increasing number of rogue stem cell clinics, but another critical trend has flown more under the radar: direct marketing of stem cells to doctors. This is big business and arguably one of the biggest threats to patients. In
Stem cell black market emerging in the U.S. Read More »
One of the most exciting types of stem cells are mesenchymal stem cells or MSCs. Although there is some debate about these cells (e.g. I once heard Irv Weissman say at a meeting he wasn’t sure they really existed as such), a consensus would seem to be that they have great potential medical potential. Perhaps
Mapping global trends in MSC & stem cell clinical trials: unexpected findings Read More »
The Knoepfler Lab Blog is giving out a Stem Cell Person of the Year 2012 Award (details here) with a cash prize of $1000. The deadline for nominations for this award is in 10 days. So far I’ve received almost 20 nominations, but I’d like even more. Call me crazy for this as it’ll just
Ten days until nominations due for Knoepfler Lab Stem Cell Person of the Year 2012 Award Read More »
Celltex is a stem cell company in Texas most well known for Guv Rick Perry’s stem cell transplant. The Celltex business model is to isolate, amplify, and bank patients’ stem cells for subsequent treatment by physicians (for more background including on the FDA role see here and here). Until the last few weeks, an important element
Celltex and former partner RNL Bio/Biostar sue each other: what’s going on? Read More »