Federal funding of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research is hanging by a tenuous thread at the moment. While currently legal, such funding is at the mercy of a legal case making its way through the courts. The latest stop for this case is a review by a 3-judge panel of the DC Circuit Court. […]
Update on embryonic stem cell court case Read More »
It’s difficult to dispute that statement, but is email good or bad for science? Scientists are addicted to email. Superficially, it is easy to make the case that email is good for science. Email allows scientists all over the world to rapidly communicate with each other in ways that simply were not possible prior to
Is email bad for science? Read More »
What does it take to succeed in research including for science newbies? Here are some key ingredients in my opinion after 22 years in academic science. Passion. One important ingredient that we cannot necessarily change significantly about ourselves, but that I think nonetheless is crucial for success, is a true excitement for science. Sometimes people
While my gel was running: advice for success for science newbies Read More »
A 60 Minutes broadcast shone a light on problems with stem cell tourism. Let’s talk about this and more good news. In a matter of just a few days, we saw three big positive moves against stem cell tourism that will no doubt make a big difference even if there is a long slog ahead
A trifecta of wins against stem cell tourism: 60 Minutes, FDA, and China Read More »
Last night 60 Minutes broadcasted ( you can watch the episode here) a long awaited 2nd segment in their continuing investigation of stem cell fraud. The first segment investigating phony doctors Stowe and Morales led to their ultimate pursuit by the FBI and indictment, aired in a couple years ago. The new episode on stem
Portrait of an alleged stem cell fraud: my thoughts on 60 Minutes episode Read More »
There has been a lot of excitement and media attention over the arrests by the FBI and the indictments of several people on charges related to alleged unlawful stem cell practices. Keep in mind that all these folks are innocent until proven guilty. Anyhow, you might wonder how the FBI got its info, etc? Was
The stem cell informer Read More »
The anti-stem cell folks have the University of Minnesota in their crosshairs of late, even making personal attacks on specific stem cell scientists. What the heck? Let me explain what is going on. The propaganda arm of the anti-stem/anti-women’s rights movement is the National Right to Life News (NRLN). This is one of those extremist
Anti-stem cell extremists attack University of Minnesota and specific scientists Read More »
What’s it like living with cancer? Exactly two years ago today, I was lying in a hospital bed literally across the street from lab here at UC Davis. It seems unreal in a way, but painfully real it was and still is. On November 30, 2009, I had surgery for prostate cancer. Two years ago,
My 2 years living with cancer, what I learned from Steve Jobs Read More »
I usually stick to science on this blog, but Friday’s events on my campus, UC Davis, compel me to take a moment to discuss what happened. I am proud of our school and to be a member of the faculty. I’m proud of our students too. I am shocked and disappointed at the events that
Unprovoked UC Davis Police Attack Peaceful Student Protestors: some perspectives Read More »
Many of you may have heard that there is a Vatican stem cell meeting . Today the Vatican held the first day of its adult stem cell conference. Embryonic stem cells remained not surprisingly uninvited. This conference is an unprecedented event in the thousands of years of history of The Church so not surprisingly many
What are the goals of the Vatican stem cell meeting and why no press releases so far? Read More »