Category Archives: Stem Cell Research

Manila: A Philippine Catholic bishop Wednesday urged donors to research on Lou Gehrigs Disease to ensure that their money does not go to unethical studies involving stem cells. The pastoral guidance was issued as more Filipinos take part in the viral fundraising ice bucket challenge for Lou Gehrigs Disease or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Archbishop Socrates Villegas said donors must make a clear and unequivocal declaration that their donation is made on condition that none of it is applied to research that involves the use of embryonic stem cells in vitro. Catholics who participate in the challenge and who make donations to this research must also demand of fund-raisers and organizers an assurance that none of the donations made will be applied to researches that are ethically reproved, he added. Villegas said that as long as the research was ethical, the Church would even encourage Catholics to donate, noting, The importance of ALS research cannot be overstated. Research must proceed, for so many suffer. Several top government officials, business leaders and other Filipino personalities have recently taken up the ALS ice bucket challenge, drenching themselves in cold … Continue reading →

Stem cell technology pioneer,DefiniGEN Ltdhas joined the Pfizer-inspired European Bank for induced pluripotent stem cells (EBiSC) consortium. The consortium comprises 26 partners, and has been newly-formed with support from the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). DefiniGen, a Cambridge University spin-out that has raised millions, represents one of the first commercial opportunities to arise from the universitys expertise in stem cells and is based on the research of Dr Ludovic Vallier, Dr Tamir Rashid and Professor Roger Pedersen of the universitys Anne McLaren Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine. The EBiSC iPS cell bank will act as a central storage and distribution facility for human iPS cells, to be used by researchers across academia and industry in the study of disease and the development of new therapeutics. DefiniGENs role will be to validate EBiSC iPS cell lines by generating liver hepatocyte cells for toxicology, disease modelling, and regenerative medicine applications. Dr Marcus Yeo, CEO of DefiniGEN, said: We are delighted to be a part of this ground-breaking consortium which will provide a crucial platform resource to enable the realisation of the full potential of iPS technology. Conceptualised and coordinated by Pfizer Ltd in Cambridge, … Continue reading →

Pro-life Ice Water Bucket Challenge for ALS The idea that millions of people have participated in, millions of dollars have been raised, and it all still seems to be going strong. What could possibly be wrong with such a great cause?... By: Reilly Ball … Continue reading →

James Accepts ALS Challenge Thank you Taehoon Oh, my partner in crime at RELOAD STUDIOS for the ALS ice bucket challenge. I support MSCTC at Kentucky University's Medical Center (http://www.kumc.edu/msctc.html) for... By: James Chung … Continue reading →

Source: Fars News Agency An Iranian researcher and scientist of the country's Royan Institute won the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for the first time in the history. Professor Hossein Baharavand from the Stem Cell Research Center of Royan Institute was qualified to win the 2014-2015 UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize. Professor Hossein Baharavand This is the first time an Iranian researcher is qualified to receive this award. On May 4, 2014 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization called for nominations for the UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in Life Sciences. UNESCO-Equatorial prize is awarded to those projects and activities of an individual, individuals, institutions, other entities or non-governmental organizations for scientific research in life sciences, which have led to improving the quality of human life. Three scientists are prizewinners at maximum who are selected by the Director-General of UNESCO on the basis of the assessments and recommendations made to her by an international jury. Hossein Baharvand is an Iranian stem cell and developmental biologist and director of Iran's Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology. Hossein Baharvand was born in 1972 and obtained his PhD degree in 2004 in the … Continue reading →

Catholic Leaders Put A Chill On ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Leaders are worried about embryonic stem cell research using aborted human fetuses. CBS 2's Lou Young reports. Official Site: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CBS... By: CBS New York … Continue reading →

Mayor Bob Campbell ALS Ice Bucket Challenge DeFuniak Springs, FL - Mayor Bob Campbell takes ALS Ice Bucket Challenge at City Hall on Friday, August 22nd, 2014. "My hope is that any stem cell research done, does not include an aborted... By: DFSPOLICE … Continue reading →

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge - Mallory Ranem I was nominated by Carley Biniek and Jim Ranem; I nominate Tori Conners, Jessie Conners, and Brianna Sundgaard. In light of the ALSA's policy on Embryonic Stem Cell research, I'll be making... By: Dustin Ranem … Continue reading →

Sermon, Where Do the Candidates in Your Area Stand on Sanctity of Human Life, Pastor Bryan Longworth 20140803 bhl Where Do the Candidates in Your Area Stand on the Sanctity of Human Life Sanctity of Human Life, Sanctity of Life, Sermon, ProLife, Abortion, Euthanasia, Mercy Killing, Fetal Stem... By: Covenant Tabernacle … Continue reading →