Expat life: William Pennant, researcher in South Korea (Koreans in the Spotlight) http://idigculture.com/ One passionate scientist describes his life philosophy, faith, and why stem cell research is so important. Watch the full interview here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp... By: I Dig Culture … Continue reading →

Dr. Charles P. Gennaula reviews a patients file with certified nurse practitioner Patty Zamiska in his office in Belle Vernon. Photo By:Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter Marlene Oreski said she welcomes breakthrough research this year by Harvard stem-cell scientists, something that offers hope for treating Alzheimers disease. But it wouldnt benefit her mother. It certainly is good news, said Marlene, a retired Carroll Township schoolteacher, in response to news in March that the researchers, Tracy Young-Pearse and Christina Muratore, had created the types of neurons that are damaged by the disease from skin cells of patients with early-onset Alzheimers. Marlene said her mother, Helen Oreski, 93, was diagnosed with dementia more than a year ago, and its symptoms have worsened to the point where she now has problems with mobility and recognizing her relatives. It would be too late for her, Marlene said, speaking of any better dementia or Alzheimers medication that could come out of new research findings. The Harvard study could lead to developing improved treatment regimens for Alzheimers before those who are at risk for the disease begin to exhibit its symptoms, much like how physicians treat heart disease early with high blood pressure medication, said Eric McDade, a UPMC … Continue reading →

Discredited stem-cell biologist Haruko Obokata will end her attempts to reproduce so-called STAP cells on Sunday as scheduled, officials at the Riken research institute said. The young scientist is attempting to prove that the cells, which are purportedly capable of developing into any type of body tissue, actually exist after studies published by her team were discredited by allegations of research misconduct. She and her co-authors later retracted two research papers on stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency that had been published in the British science journal Nature. The state-backed institute plans to disclose the results of her tests after compiling the data but has not decided when to release them because it is not known how long it will take to interpret the data, the officials said Friday. Obokata will organize and analyze the data under the supervision of other researchers, including the leader of a Riken team that is attempting to reproduce the fabled cells, the officials said. In August, the team said in an interim report that it had not yet succeeded. Obokata has joined the research team to conduct, with a third party present, experiments that are set to be terminated at the end of this month, regardless … Continue reading →