Editors   World's Second Human Trials of Embryonic Stem Cells May Make the Blind See Again   4/20/2009 11:00:00 AM    
In what would be the second human trials of embryonic stem cells (the first for spinal cord injuries), a UK team is applying for regulatory approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the Human Tissue Authority, in order to replace damaged cells caused by age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness.

Embryonic stem cells will be re...

Editors   SHOCK: Obama Signs Bill Banning Federal Funding of Embryonic Stem Cells   3/13/2009 1:20:00 PM    
President Obama signed H.R. 1105, the “Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (aka omnibus appropriations bill) on Wednesday which included a hidden provision that explicitly bans federal funding of any "research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed, discarded, or knowingly subjected to risk of injury or death."

This bill is counter to the claims of Obama made just Monday where "sc...

Editors   Policy: Obama Signs Executive Order Authorizing Federal Funding of Embryonic Stem Cell Research   3/9/2009 11:45:00 AM    
President Obama signed an Executive Order authorizing Federal funding for embryonic stem cell research - overturning President Bush's ban on such funding.

Stay tuned for the details of the order.

Editors   FLASH: Policy: Obama to Sign Embryonic Stem Cell Executive Order Monday   3/6/2009 4:06:00 PM    
President Obama will sign an executive order Monday authorizing Federal funds to be used in embryonic stem cell research.

This was widely expected. However, it is ironic this funding will be available just as embryonic stem cells may not be needed with the recent advances in 'artificial' embryonic stem cells (aka iPS or induced pluripotent cells).

Editors   Deal: Stem Cells Inc. Diversifies with Embryonic Stem Cell Acquisition   3/6/2009 8:40:00 AM    
US based Stem Cells, Inc. (StemCells) acquires UK and Australia based Stem Cell Sciences plc in $5 million stock and cash deal.

This is StemCells's gambit to diversify from being solely an adult stem cell business into being a global provider of embryonic stem cells, induced stem cells (artificial embryonic), and adult stem cells.

Editors   Policy: Embryonic Stem Cell Bill Reintroduced in US Senate   2/27/2009 10:30:00 AM    
Senators Tom Harkin, (D) Iowa, and Arlen Specter, (R) Pennsylvania, reintroduced a Senate bill that would allow federal financing for human embryonic stem-cell research, in anticipation of President Obama’s support.

The same bill was approved by both houses of Congress in 2007, then vetoed by President Bush.

Editors   Policy: Axelrod says Obama Will Lift Stem Cell Ban Soon   2/16/2009 10:20:00 AM    
David Axelrod, senior Obama advisor, on Fox News Sunday said "We're going to be doing something on that soon, I think. The president is considering that right now" when asked about overturning Bush's ban on Federal funding for embryonic stem cell lines after 2001.

Editors   Further Advance in Artificial Stem Cells - Blood Platelets Created   2/9/2009 12:28:00 PM    1 comment
Kyoto University's Shinya Yamanaka and University of Tokyo's Naoya Takayama were the first in the world to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) cells (think artificial embryonic stem cells) using skin cells from mice in 2006, then in humans in November 2007. They have now proceeded to the next step by creating blood platelets using these cells.

Editors   Video: What are Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells? June 25 2008   2/9/2009 6:00:00 AM    
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells were developed in 2007 by Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University. Dr. Yamanaka and his team derived the cells by adding proteins that reprogram adults cells, reverting them to their embryonic state. "These new cells are expected to live for a very long time while retaining the ability to form all of the different tissues found in a human body.

iPSC cells do no...

Editors   FDA Approves First Drug Made From Altered Animals   2/6/2009 11:59:00 AM    
The US FDA approved the first drug, A Tryn made by GTC Biotherapeutics, made with materials from genetically engineered animals (goats), clearing the way for a new class of medical therapies.

The injectable drug will treat patients with a rare hereditary disorder to help prevent blood clots.

Editors   Final: Can't Use Animal Eggs to Clone Humans   2/2/2009 2:40:00 PM    
After 10 years trying hundreds of experiments, it's final. You can't use animal eggs to produce a cloned human embryo.

Teams of scientists have used mice, cows, and rabbit eggs to no avail. Mixing human and animal cells does not appear to program the egg properly, said Dr. Robert Lanza of Massachusetts-based Advanced Cell Technology.

Editors   US Stem Cell Bank now has all 21 Federally Approved Embryonic Stem Cell Lines   1/30/2009 6:00:00 AM    
The National Stem Cell Bank (NSCB) has now acquired all 21 embryonic stem cell lines currently available for Federal funding.

Editors   Video: How Stem Cells Develop From Embryonic to Adult Cells   1/26/2009 9:00:00 AM    
Intermediate level 8 minute video explains how stem cells develop from embryo to adult cells.

Has beautiful graphics showing self replenishing cells in the intestines (similar to the ones in the skin, hair, and bones).

Explains how the nervous system, pancreas and the heart all regenerate too poorly to restore themselves after serious injury or degenerative disease.

Editors   FDA Approves World's First Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy in Humans. Will They Walk Again?   1/23/2009 9:25:00 AM    
The FDA announced today that Geron Corp, a California biotechnology company, will perform the world's first embryonic stem cell (hESC) therapy on humans.

Geron will inject hESC cells directly into the damaged sites of paraplegic patients with spinal cord injuries in an effort to regrow ner...

Editors   Policy: Obama May Get Congress to Lift Stem Cell Ban   1/17/2009 11:32:00 AM    
President-Elect Obama said Friday he may not reverse the Bush stem cell ban. But instead, he may ask Congress to act.

Editors   Surprise: Feet, Hand and Thigh Found in Baby's Brain   12/18/2008 3:10:00 PM    
Doctors were surprised when they found 2 feet, a thigh, and a hand in a baby's brain. They thought they were removing a tumor from a 3 day old baby's brain.

They were unsure if the limbs were from a stem cell gone wild or the remains of an identical twin.

Editors   The Vatican Issues Major New Doctrine 'The Dignity of a Person'. Embryo Rights Doctrine.   12/12/2008 12:10:00 PM    
The Vatican issued Dignitas Personae,'The Dignity of a Person', to help answer bioethical questions that have emerged in the two decades since its last such document was published.

Embryos have rights. Human life begins at conception and must be given the consequent respect and dignity from that moment on. The Vatican also holds that human life should be created through intercourse betwe...