I recently chatted with Sean Morrison, current President of ISSCR, on his goals for the Society, where the stem cell field stands today, top challenges, and the future. 2020 update: read my new interview with Sean on cell therapies for COVID-19. What are your goals for your tenure as President of ISSCR? SM: ISSCR is the […]
ISSCR President Sean Morrison on challenges and future of stem cell field Read More »
Professor Steven Pinker of Harvard has been making the case recently that when it comes to novel biotechnologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 that bioethics should just get out of the way. Further, he has argued that we do not need a moratorium on clinical use of CRISPR-Cas9 for human genetic modification. In fact, he says that
Why I Disagree with Steven Pinker On CRISPR Read More »
CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology is red-hot right now and I’ve been doing interviews with various thought leaders on it, which today includes Steven Pinker. This technology has great power for research in the lab and there are hypothetical transformative clinical applications of CRISPR too. The latter efforts could include experimental attempts at reversal of disease-causing
Steven Pinker interview: case against bioethocrats & CRISPR germline ban Read More »
The topic of heritable human genetic modification has been heating up recently. Prominent scientists, ethicists, and legal scholars have being weighing in, and there is a range of attitudes. Some favor a complete, moratorium including even lab work, while on the other end of the spectrum there are those who have a more liberal perspective. Many
Nita Farahany Interview on Human Germline Modification: Defining A Road Forward Read More »
Stemedica announced it is teaming up with UC San Diego (UCSD) to do stem cell research. This fits with an increasing trend in the stem cell arena is the teaming up of clinical partners with very different backgrounds and priorities. For instance, academic institutions are more often working together with for-profit stem cell clinics. Another branch
Muddier stem cell waters: Stemedica teams up with UCSD doc? Read More »
It’s been exciting to watch the recent developments in using stem cells as the basis for treatments for Type I Diabetes. One of the major players in this arena is the privately-held company, ViaCyte. In this post, I interview ViaCyte President and CEO, Paul Laikind. The topics include their VC-01 product, the Encaptra device, an update on
ViaCyte CEO Laikind Interview: Trial Update, Melton, & Future Read More »
The Texas stem cell clinic Celltex was one of the most controversial businesses in the world of stem cells in 2012 and 2013 (see here for background and as an update see this new post on how the Texas clinic has teamed up with a local university). The FDA essentially shut down the Celltex clinical
Arthritis Foundation Sell Out To Stem Cell Clinic Celltex? Read More »
Is Neuralstem flirting with noncompliance via a Right To Try Law in Colorado? Colorado is an independent-minded state. For example, it is one of only a few states including Washington State with legalized marijuana use. More recently, Colorado passed a new law supported by the ultra-conservative Goldwater Institute, the so-called Right To Try Law. This law
Neuralstem flirting with noncompliance via Right To Try Law? Read More »
Late last year I was hearing some exciting things about California Stem Cell, Inc. under the leadership of Hans Keirstead. (2020 update: interestingly 3 years ago Keirstead ran for congress, but the campaign didn’t quite make it.) In fact, I thought a big move for California Stem was in the cards for 2014 and looking into
As Predicted, Big News For California Stem Cell, Inc.: Purchased by NeoStem Read More »
A long-standing debate in the commercial stem cell arena has focused on whether stem cells grown in a lab prior to clinical use as a transplantation product are biological drugs subject to full FDA vetting. The alternative view has been that such stem cell products are not drugs, but rather are simple human cellular and
Court in Regenerative Sciences Case: Propagated Stem Cells Are Drugs Read More »