The FDA stem cell clinic problem just continues to grow, while the agency has been oddly quiet in this space for more than a year. It’s been a major disappointment, particularly as in recent years FDA leadership had implied that bold action was coming. Their own words spiked expectations that the agency would tackle unproven […]
Did COVID derail FDA stem cell clinic plan? Read More »
Stem cell reviews of clinics and unproven therapies are an important relatively new part of The Niche. Data point to thousands of stem cell clinics in the U.S. selling a wide variety of supposed cell therapies. How does one evaluate such clinics? This question is on my mind regularly as so many patients ask me
Stem cell reviews: clinics, therapies, & dubious ideas Read More »
When I first started this blog back in 2010 the most contentious issue on the more political side of our field was federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. It was something you couldn’t take for granted. Some history on embryonic stem cell funding in the US There were times back then when funding of
Is embryonic stem cell research a target after Roe? Read More »
It’s been mostly a downbeat week on the stem cell news front including a deep revisit by Reuters to the Piero Anversa case that has new revelations. It’s ugly stuff involving other folks too. We’ll start on the iPS cell front, where a trial participant had a teratoma. I’ve had a long-standing interest in the
Dr. Paolo Macchiarini exemplifies how things can change quickly in the stem cell world and go from sky highs to deep lows. Stem cell rollercoasters Over the years, a few academic stem cell researchers as well as some operators in the unproven clinic sphere have had dizzying ups and downs. There’s John Kosolcharoen. His company
Paolo Macchiarini guilty in criminal stem cell case but does a Houdini again Read More »
I grew up in the Seattle area so it wasn’t great to see stem cell clinics operating there recently, but better news was the WA State AG filing suit against a clinic there. The action included the clinic parent firm US Stemology along with its leader Dr. Tami Meraglia. The suit was filed only months ago
WA AG wins half million from Seattle stem cell clinic US Stemology Read More »
I’ve had concerns about an American unproven clinic firm called R3 Stem Cell for many years. They sell stem cell-related “treatments” via dozens of affiliated locations. I put quotes around treatments for a reason. In my view as a stem cell biologist, there is no good evidence here for claims of treating numerous serious illnesses.
Review of troubling R3 Stem Cell clinic chain Read More »
A few people in the stem cell field keep arguing that adult pluripotent stem cells exist, including so-called “very small embryonic-like stem cells” or VSEL stem cells. These days the supposed cells are called VSELs or V-cells too. Only a handful of researchers have ever been able to report finding and studying these cells. Others
Fact-checking VSEL stem cells & VSEL treatment 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 »
Parabiosis refers to the joining together of two animals, typically rodents in research. They become one interconnected living system that shares blood. Research on mouse parabiosis has sparked much interest in anti-aging therapies. These might utilize “young” materials to help older people. Our first recommended read is a parabiosis paper. Before we jump into that,
Weekly stem cell reads: parabiosis, UC Davis trial, HeLa lawsuit, gray hair Read More »