Conference on Stem Cell Research Taking Place in India

Conference on Stem Cell Research Taking Place in India

The private Indian cord bank LifeCell has sponsored a stem cell research conference taking place in Chennai, India. There are yet no reports of new research information or techniques. The emphasis of the symposium is on cord blood. MedIndia reports that some of the topics included stem cell transplantation, stem cell treatment for neurological diseases, and stem cell ethics, as well as specific sessions on cord blood. According to the Business Standard, a professor of pediatrics and immunology at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington told a press conference that stem cell research would benefit pharmaceutical companies. The conference is also discussed on Chennai Online.

Editorial in Montgomery, Alabama Newspaper Supporting Stem Cell research

Editorial in Montgomery, Alabama Newspaper Supporting Stem Cell research

An editorial that appeared in the Montgomery Advertiser yesterday quoted a scientist at the University of Alabama, Montgomery as saying that the stem cell fraud in Korea was in part possible because of the federal restrictions on stem cell research; researchers in the US were not able to do work in tandem with Hwang because of the restrictions. The editorial concludes that “an unwise, ideologically driven decision on research of such staggering potential” is stifling research. The editorial does not address embryonic stem cell research per se. This editorial was notable to me because it emphasized the importance of collaboration in scientific progress—regardless of one’s stance on embryonic stem cell research, I think it is important to be aware of how research affects other research, even across international lines.

Snippet—Hair Follicle Stem Cell Genes Identified

Snippet—Hair Follicle Stem Cell Genes Identified

Researchers at the National Cancer Institute have isolated the genes expressed by the stem cells of human hair follicles. They have also identified marker proteins which will help in identifying the stem cells for later research. The news is reported in a press release on Medical News Today from the Journal of Clinical Investigation, where the study will appear. There is no news of it yet on the website for the National Cancer Institute.