By Jane Langille A few weeks ago, I wrote to Dr. Paul Knoepfler after reading his book Stem Cells: An Insider’s Guide because I was intrigued by his stem cell theory of aging. I wondered if his theory might mean that someone who mobilized and donated hematopoietic cells might be shortening their own lifetime supply. After […]
Risks for Healthy PBSC Donors? One Family’s Powerful Experience Read More »
When I started blogging in 2010 the stem cell arena was a very different place including the fact I could count the number of US stem cell clinics on one hand. This blog, called The Niche for many years, was just “Knoepfler Stem Cell Blog” back then. Also, back then the hot topic was the
Stem cell clinics, FDA, & giant, unapproved for-profit human experiments Read More »
The Niche is the top, most authoritative stem cell and regenerative medicine blog on the web. It’s the only one to our knowledge written mostly by a professor. Professor Paul Knoepfler of UC Davis School of Medicine, an internationally respected stem cell biologist and educator, runs The Niche. Knoepfler is an advocate of rigorous evidence-based
About Us, The Niche and Knoepfler Lab Read More »
Nominations have closed and we have more than two dozen nominations for Stem Cell Person of the Year 2014. It’s an exciting, diverse group including some news faces as well as nominees from years past as well. Happy Stem Cell Day! You can now vote for your choice for the top finalists in the poll
Stem Cell Person of the Year 2014 Award: Vote To Choose 12 Finalists Read More »
StemCells Inc. is a top biotech company developing stem cell-based therapies. They have a deep pipeline that includes already ongoing trials for a variety of diseases. I invited company leadership to do an interview and they graciously accepted. Below is the interview with CFO Greg Schiffman (picture at left from LinkedIn) including what I thought
Interview with StemCells Inc. leadership on hot topics Read More »
Dr. Yoshiki Sasai (笹井芳樹) former Deputy Director of the RIKEN CDB and a senior author on the STAP papers, has reportedly died from suicide. Update: The Japan Times writes on this situation that Sasai was found hanging at RIKEN and there may have been a suicide note. Dr. Sasai was a top scholar in the stem
Stem cell tragedy: Yoshiki Sasai (笹井芳樹) commits suicide Read More »
I have been corresponding now and then with Dr. Teru Wakayama about the ongoing STAP situation. He asked me to pass along the following message from him for clarification on the STAP Nature paper retraction and the origin of the STAP stem cells (STAP-SC). I would like to take this opportunity to explain the reason for
New Message from Wakayama on STAP retraction & origin of STAP-SC Read More »
I’ve really enjoyed day 2 of ISSCR 2014. So far this day has already packed in a slew of great talks both in the lecture halls and outside one-on-one with old friends and new ones. How great is that? I’ll focus on just a few highlights to keep it concise. Dubious stem cell clinics and
ISSCR 2014 Day 2: Navigating Balanced Stem Cell Path to Clinic Read More »
Very small embryonic-like stem cells aka VSELs are reported to be tiny adult stem cells that are pluripotent or non-existent depending on whom you talk to most recently or which paper you just read. These very controversial cells (which I once compared to the Sasquatch) have a wildly fluctuating history with their existence on multiple occasions
Wild History of VSELs Predicts Future of STAP Cells? Read More »
I believe that social media has on the whole had a strongly positive impact on the STAP cell situation that the stem cell field has been grappling with for 5 weeks. If the STAP method is proven to be correct at some later date, which is possible, it’s almost certain that those replication efforts will
Social Media Helps Field Deal With Stressful STAP Stem Cell Situation Read More »