Sometimes it’s useful to ask questions like, “How many stem cells are in the human body?” As we try to answer them we end up going through key aspects of cell biology and stem cell identity more generally. How many stem cells in the human body? It might seem like possibly an easy question at […]
How many stem cells do we have & can you run out? Read More »
The last few years in the stem cell and regenerative medicine arena have been complicated in many ways. Variables like surging stem cell clinics and COVID have made predictions harder. Even so, trying to make predictions is useful and it’s fun to go over past year’s predictions. You can see my scorecard on my 2021
16 predictions for stem cells & regenerative medicine in 2022 Read More »
A type of human cells used in research called HEK cells or 293s has been much in the news lately. This is mainly related to COVID-19 vaccine research. There seem to be many misunderstandings about 293 cells. For that reason, I thought I’d do this post to clear things up. I’ve been working with these
Explainer on 293 or HEK cells and their use in COVID vaccine research Read More »
I’ve been concerned that the journal Stem Cells Translational Medicine has been publishing some iffy papers from unproven stem cell clinics recently including from a Panama stem cell clinic called the Stem Cell Institute. Back in 2019, I took the unusual step of raising the question of whether a Stem Cells Translational Medicine paper from Neil Riordan,
Questions remain after Stem Cells Translational Medicine retracts clinic pub Read More »
One of the most interesting parts of running The Niche is that I get all these questions about stem cells and related matters from readers. I try to answer questions regularly by email, but sometimes the volume catches up with me. For that reason I periodically try to do posts answering such questions, which has
Answering reader questions: snorting stem cells, Regenexx, exosomes Read More »
What are your favorite cells? The stem variety? T-cells? I have a hard time choosing just one favorite. The first news item I feature talks new imaging methods to see deep inside any cells. Have a favorite organelle? The secret lives of cells — as never seen before, Nature. This news item covers newer imaging techniques
Recommended reads: secrets of cells, T-cells, CRISPR Read More »
Clade Therapeutics has been pursuing the idea of using gene-editing to make universally compatible cells. The potential here is big. What if you could make cloaked stem cells that could be used to produce cellular therapies that could be given to most patients without fear of immune rejection? Clade Therapeutics Boston Business Journal covers the
Clade Therapeutics pursues universal cells for cancer therapy Read More »
As many of you know I am a cancer survivor myself so studying cancer stem cells has meaning for me on another level. Cancer is also the possible side effect most patients worry about when considering going to an unproven stem cell clinic. I’ve got a new video up on possible stem cell side effects
Weekly reads: cancer stem cells, Bik, & more Read More »
It’s great when an idea like stem cells for osteoporosis just makes so much common sense, but it still requires data. A logical hypothesis is not enough. The point of today’s post is to fact-check the idea of using stem cells for such bone loss. A femur to stand on? Unfortunately, the take-home message is
Boning up on stem cells for osteoporosis: good idea, little data so far Read More »
I’ve been busy recently focusing more on grant and paper writing than reading papers on stem cells, but my piece on trying to de-extinct mammoths via cloning-like methods drew strong opinions on both sides. Recent news and resources on stem cells We’re still awaiting a verdict in the big California federal court case where the FDA is
Weekly reads: news, legos for stem cells, FDA, cancer, more Read More »