Today is one of those days that will go down in medical and scientific history, the day that scientists at Oregon Health and Science University led by Professor Shoukhrat Mitalipov announced that they had successfully created pluripotent human stem cells by cloning skin cells. This is the first time that this has been accomplished in human cells, … Continue reading First human stem cells created through cloning…thank Mitalipov’s macaques!
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A new drug to treat type II diabetes: Thank the…Gila monster?
Earlier this week Lyxumia (generic name Lixisenatide), a new drug that helps to control type II diabetes, was launched in the UK. In addition to being an effective and saft therapy for type II diabeted, including in some patients that do not respond to current first-line therapies, Lyxumia is relatively inexpensive when compared to current therapies for type … Continue reading A new drug to treat type II diabetes: Thank the…Gila monster?
Pro-Test Italia in Milan: A silver lining to a grey cloud
In December 2012 we reported that scientists in Italy had founded Pro-Test Italia to counter the rising tide of ignorance and intimidation that threatens the future of science in Italy. Last weekend we heard about a new animal rights outrage in Italy. As reported in Nature News, activists broke into the Department of Pharmacology in … Continue reading Pro-Test Italia in Milan: A silver lining to a grey cloud
Treating Progeria; How GM mice give hope to some very special children
Something big is going on right now in the world of research. Something very specific for some very special children with a very rare disease. It may not be widely known by name but I am sure you have seen these children. The disease is called Progeria. From the Progeria Research Foundation's website, we learn: … Continue reading Treating Progeria; How GM mice give hope to some very special children
IVF pioneer Sir Robert Edwards dies aged 87
We are saddened to learn that IVF pioneer Professor Sir Bob Edwards has died at the age of 87, following a long illness. The University of Cambridge announced his death earlier today, noting that through his work Professor Edwards had improved the lives of millions of people around the world. Speaking about his former colleague, … Continue reading IVF pioneer Sir Robert Edwards dies aged 87
From Macaques to Humans: UK regulator gives cautious thumbs up to advanced IVF techniques to prevent mitochondrial disease
Yesterday the UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) advised the government that there is no evidence the two advanced forms of IVF developed to prevent mitochondrial diseases are unsafe, recommending that research using human embryos should continue, with close monitoring of the health of children born through these two techniques, which are known as maternal spindle transfer and pronuclear transfer. At the … Continue reading From Macaques to Humans: UK regulator gives cautious thumbs up to advanced IVF techniques to prevent mitochondrial disease
Liver transplant breakthrough set to save thousands of lives: Thank the pigs!
On Friday the BBC reported that Ian Christie, a man who developed cirrhosis of the liver after being infected with hepatitis C during a blood transfusion 25 years ago, had become the first person in the world to receive a transplanted liver that had been preserved at room temperature rather than being cooled after being … Continue reading Liver transplant breakthrough set to save thousands of lives: Thank the pigs!
Brain Awareness Week: The Role of Animals in Neuroscience
If you're a regular reader of the Speaking of Research science blog you will know that we are very interested in neuroscience - in fact several of us are neuroscientists - so you won't be surprised to learn that we have been following events during Brain Awareness Week (#brainweek on twitter). Brain Awareness Week is a … Continue reading Brain Awareness Week: The Role of Animals in Neuroscience
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