Recently I had the opportunity to talk with the leadership of Asterias, a California biotech doing exciting clinical research using stem cells as the basis for treatment of spinal cord injury. The interview covers the past (Geron patients), present, and future. I spoke with Asterias President and CEO Stephen Cartt and CMO Edward Wirth. How […]
Asterias interview: stem cell spinal cord injury trials advance Read More »
Some stem cell news headlines from the past week for you folks. Neuroscience: New nerves for old. Fixing stuff like strokes and paralysis. Cambridge’s Gurdon Institute and Stem Cell Institute receive five-year funding boost. Money flow to stem cells FDA “talks” stem cells in NEJM, “Clarifying Stem-Cell Therapy’s Benefits and Risks”, published on same day that 21st Century
Top stem cell & regenerative medicine headlines of the week Read More »
San Diego-based stem cell business Stemgenex is the subject of a suit over allegations about stem cell treatments. The company has now filed a motion to dismiss the case. To me as a non-attorney, the Stemgenex motion to dismiss seems to emphasize overall vagueness of the plaintiff’s case and argues in part that there is insufficient detailed support of each claim. From
Stemgenex motion to dismiss aims to rebut stem cell suit claims Read More »
There is a growing trend of apparently unhappy patients suing stem cell clinics, which have faced more lawsuits recently and some of these cases are proposed class action suits that could have much broader impact. The latest case is against San Diego-based Stemgenex, a clinic that has claimed amongst other things that it can treat numerous diverse afflictions and that
Stem cell clinic lawsuits proliferate with latest against Stemgenex Read More »
I received a score of great nominations for the Stem Cell Person of the Year 2016 Award and have briefly described the twenty nominees below. The point of the award is to honor the top positive stem cell leader who specifically thinks outside the box and takes risks. I’ve started an on-line vote where you can vote once per day for
20 Nominees for Stem Cell Person of the Year 2016 Award Read More »
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 »
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 »
It takes a great deal of courage to participate in a clinical trial, patients who make that choice are heroes in my book and one such hero with stem cells was Ted Harada who had ALS. Sadly, Ted passed away from a brain tumor called glioblastoma last month. When enrolling in a trial, you just never
Tribute to Ted Harada, pioneering stem cell trial participant and ALS advocate 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 »
Will Trump trump the FDA? Our President-elect recently released his health care policy agenda and it looks like the FDA is a target in terms of reducing oversight. Over at the Washington Post, Carolyn Johnson has a nice article on this development. One point in the agenda in particular has caught people’s attention as potentially the key
Trump Has FDA in Crosshairs: Impact on Stem Cell Oversight? Read More »