The big scandal about alleged, later mostly recanted transplants of iPS cells (for more on iPS cells see here) into human patients centered on one fellow named Hisashi Moriguchi. For more on the case see here. Clearly Moriguchi is to blame for his lies. The paper Yomiuri is also to blame for splashing the unverified […]
Hisashi Moriguchi had a poster up at the NY Stem Cell Meeting yesterday and has done interviews with Japanese media saying that he has led a team that transplanted iPS cells into human patients. Reportedly his poster said and the newspaper articles have stated that the iPS cell transplant work had IRB approval from Harvard
Harvard Spokesman reiterates: Moriguchi did not have Harvard IRB approval Read More »
It has been a big week in very different ways for the stem cell field related to induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. First, we had the Nobel Prize deservedly going to stem cell hero, Shinya Yamanaka. Great news! Congratulations to Dr. Yamanaka. Unfortunately, now, we have a puzzling story that iPS cells have been reported
Yesterday I managed to get to see a fabulous talk by Dr. Edison Liu, President and CEO of The Jackson Laboratory in Maine. I was able to squeeze it in, in between working on my R01 proposal and preparing for teaching histo to the med students here at UC Davis Med School. Dr. Liu was
Yesterday I had part I of my interview with NIGMS former Director, Dr. Jeremy Berg. Today we have part II of the interview, which I found very interesting and helpful in providing a glimpse into NIH. I appreciate Dr. Berg doing the interview and his frankness. Given the budgetary issues facing NIH in terms of
Jeremy Berg interview part II: the future of NIH funding Read More »
Obtaining research grant funding is a critical part of science, but the process seems to be getting more challenging each year. Funding rates are decreasing. Applicant frustration is increasing and many grant applicants tell me they feel confused about the differences between funded and unfunded proposals. The largest funder of biomedical research in the U.S.
Interview with NIGMS Director, Jeremy Berg, part 1: grant advice, meritocracy Read More »
I love stem cells, but I have to admit bionics is totally amazing as well. Both hold great promise for fixing up human beings as we injured or age. Today a major advance in vision correction via bionics was announced here at UC Davis that has really caught my attention. I was not involved in
Bionic eye here at UC Davis holds great promise for restoring vision Read More »
Stem cell cosmetics is an exploding area ranging from facial creams (e.g. from L’Oreal and its Lancome) to face lifts to boob jobs to baldness treatments (see two key posts here and here for background and great stories). The stem cell cosmetics field has not been held back by issues such as the fact that
L’Oreal Lancome gets hammered by FDA, why kid gloves for clinics? Read More »
What are Conflict of Interests (COI)? The term COI is sometimes used inappropriately as a weapon by one party to attempt to discredit others. We see this more and more frequently in the stem cell field with boosters of for-profit, non-FDA vetted adult stem cell clinics attacking scientists for supposed COIs for what…..apparently for simply
Real and imaginary conflicts of interest: a helpful guide Read More »
I watched some parts of the big speeches at this year’s Republican Convention in Tampa and was struck by a number of things running the gamut from good to bad to ugly. I think Mrs. Romney did a good job on her speech. She came across as likable and someone I can imagine as a
The good, the bad, and the ugly of the Republican Convention Read More »