I finished listening to the first 6 episodes of the Bad Batch podcast last week. The series is by medical journalist Laura Beil. I think there will be a 7th episode that’s a Q&A. I highly recommend listening to the series even if parts are wrenching at times like how much patients and families have […]
Bad Batch podcast’s dark picture of perinatal stem cell industry Read More »
The stem cell universe is populated by sometimes mysterious acronyms (see an image of a whole alphabet stem cell acronym soup), many of which refer to specific kinds of stem cells including one nebulous type called MUSE cells. MUSE cells clinical trials I’m not convinced that MUSE cells exist, but oddly there appear to be
MUSE cells are in 4 Japanese stem cell trials despite doubts Read More »
I’m relatively new to podcasts, but am enjoying a new stem cell-focused one called Bad Batch by medical journalist Laura Beil, which I’ve been listening to in the car as I commute. I just finished episode three. I’m curious to hear how the next few episodes of the story unfold. I talked and emailed with
Bad Batch podcast is must listen for stem cell community Read More »
When it comes to coverage of stem cell research in the media, science news can both be cool, but also surprising. Some of the more interesting publications don’t always draw news coverage too. This post is a list of recent notable pubs and news. First some pubs. How good are human brain organoids at modeling
Recommended reads: stem cell pubs plus science news Read More »
Here we go again with people trying to ban funding of embryonic stem cell research. Really? Yes, including according to a new article from the Catholic News Agency. Who is trying to get this ban? Some Republicans in The U.S. Senate. I’ve wondered for years if the Trump Administration might take action against embryonic stem
US Senate bill would ban embryonic stem cell research Read More »
It can be kind of a big deal when politicians, especially at the federal level, write the FDA about stem cells. Is this going to be good news or bad? Some combination? I tend to worry that some senators or representatives might pressure the FDA to weaken oversight. However, lately it seems like the opposite
Congress pushes FDA on stem cell clinic mess in new letter Read More »
We’re seeing more muddy waters in the stem cell universe. A chiropractic stem cell and alternative medicine clinic has popped up calling itself, of all things, CIRM. On another front, an already controversial docuseries set to air tomorrow combines interviews with prominent academic stem cell scientists and unproven stem cell clinic folks, muddying the waters.
Muddy waters: stem cell clinic calls itself CIRM & docuseries sparks controversy Read More »
The perinatal stem cell clinic supplier Liveyon has had many issues recently including an FDA inspection that in my view didn’t go well and which I’ll return to in a minute. First, some background on the company and this troubled industry. E. coli and other pathogens ended up in some of the Liveyon product somehow
Dissecting Liveyon FDA inspection report & troubled perinatal stem cell industry Read More »
Unproven stem cell clinics are facing a variety of lawsuits these days including two prominent cases filed by the FDA. There are widespread patient suits against clinics as well. In April we saw a new kind of suit in the form of the NY State Attorney General (AG) Letitia James filing against a Manhattan clinic.
NY stem cell clinic pushes back on lawsuit by AG Read More »
There is real hope for treating spinal cord injury with stem cell-based therapies in the future. However, unfortunately regulators in Japan have taken a major misstep in approving a not-ready-for-primetime mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based approach to spinal cord injury. Their decision is dangerous and unwise. In a Nature piece (linked to above) by David Cyranoski
Japan’s dangerous gamble approving unproven stem cells for spinal cord injury Read More »