I’m a seismologist at the University of Tokyo, where I’ve been since 1984. I was the first tenured foreign faculty member in the history of our university. If you look at my publication list on the Researcher ID site you can see that my main research recent interests are modeling seismic wave propagation and analyzing […]
Seismologist from Japan looks at the STAP cells mess Read More »
Why is CRISPR Cas9 gene editing such a big deal? Imagine being able to make mutations in any gene you wanted say in stem cells in a relatively simple, quick and affordable fashion? Sounds exciting, huh? Every so often a new kind of technology comes along in the biomedical sciences that is a true game
CRISPR Cas9 Gene Editing Tech Will Revolutionize Biology Read More »
Will a few of the “elite” of the research world be on the wrong side of history when it comes to STAP cells? It seems some don’t want people talking about just how bad the STAP situation might be. Bad news may travel fast as the expression goes, but the people who talk about it may
STAP coverage ruffles some ‘elite’ stem cell feathers 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 »
Two of my favorite things are stem cells and histones. When they both come together in one paper and it’s in my favorite journal, Cell Stem Cell, you’ve got my full attention. My own lab is especially interested in the roles of histones and Myc in stem cells. So when I saw a paper a paper from
Cool Cell Stem Cell Paper From Ishii Team on Histones & Reprogramming Read More »
I’ve been doing a weekly-ish poll on people’s sentiments about STAP cells. It’s not scientific but many people have told me they find it interesting. Week 4’s poll is done with more than 500 votes and it is even more discouraging than week 3. See the purple line in the graph as that is the
Week 4 poll: few hopeful about STAP cells anymore Read More »
We need medical innovations, but what is the appropriate way for agencies like the FDA to regulate the process and fight bogus interventions based solely on hype? Without innovation, medicine becomes stagnant and hope fades for patients who have any one of numerous conditions that are currently inadequately addressed by medicine. I can relate on
What is the FDA’s appropriate role in regulating medical innovations such as stem cells? Read More »
The below is an excerpt from my book, Stem Cells: An Insider’s Guide. I hope you enjoy this excerpt and the book, which I think is a really good deal at under $27 paperback or under $17 for E-book version. Having our innovation and ethics too In the stem cell field you can have it
Book Excerpt: Stem Cell For-Profit Good Citizen Biotechs Read More »
I recently posted on the dangerous situation with the Stamina Foundation. I discussed the controversy surrounding it that has impacted scientists, politicians, the media, and patients. Stamina’s unproven stem cell treatments in Italy should be of concern to everyone across the globe in the stem cell field. For example, here in the US where I
More on Stamina Foundation Controversy: Letter from Michele Simonato Read More »
One of the big stem cell-related stories of 2013 was the controversy over the Stamina Foundation in Italy and its potential use of largely untested stem cell products on patients, including mostly children. The winner of my 2013 Stem Cell Person of the Year Award was Dr. Elena Cattaneo and one reason she won was the courage
Nature Slams Controversial Stamina Foundation: A Dangerous Situation Continues Read More »