Lisa Willemse
Lisa has been with the Stem Cell Network since 2008 and launched this blog (first as the Stem Cell Network Blog) in 2009, where she serves as editor and occasional contributor. Prior to joining SCN, Lisa worked as a science communicator in the fields of language and literacy development and high-speed networking/computing. Her background also includes stints as an editor, journalist and photographer.
Posts by: Lisa
View from the floor: ISSCR 2103 day 4
. Kudos to ISSCR for pulling off what I think is the best annual conference to date (or at least in the last six years, which is how long I’ve been attending). Sure, you could say that the record attendance (over 4,100) is a marker of success, but it’s much more than a numbers game…Read more
View from the floor: ISSCR 2013 day 3
. Did the coffee lineup seem a little longer on Friday? Was it because it’s day 3 and our minds are getting tired from the great science and late nights (dancing, anyone)? Here’s a snapshot of what happened in the plenary sessions, the poster hall and elsewhere around the conference, as we saw it and…Read more
Right Turn: ISSCR in “cell”uloid
“The stem cell scientists are coming.” No, wait, it’s the British. Actually, Paul Revere said it was the “regulars” who were coming. ISSCR is in Boston, and we have some images of the conference as well as the host city to share. Enjoy! Our regular feature, Right Turn, showcases the “lighter” side of stem…Read more
View from the floor: #ISSCR2013 day 2
. Those watching the triple overtime hockey game or hitting one of the evening networking events will have found it an early morning on day 2. Fortunately, there were some fantastic talks to keep everyone awake, including a new Patient Advocate Address that was very well received by attendees. Here’s a snapshot of what happened…Read more
View from the floor: #ISSCR2013 day 1
. And on day one the clouds parted in Boston and the ISSCR conference began. Here’s a snapshot of what happened in the plenary sessions, the poster hall and elsewhere around the conference, as we saw it and through the eyes of bloggers and tweeps. Daily blog roundup A few years back, you would have…Read more
Right Turn: A line video primer on stem cells
. Good videos that easily and effectively provide a basic explanation of stem cells are not so easy to find — or create. Drawing (yes, pun intended!) from the popular MinutePhysics series, which uses time-lapsed line drawing to explain scientific principles (such as why pink doesn’t exist), the pharmaceutical company, Roche, has launched its own…Read more
Right Turn: Bench to bedside goes interactive
. This is an anniversary celebration of sorts. One year ago (almost to the day), EuroStemCell and OptiStem released the graphic story From Hope to Hype and I recall being amazed: not just at the beauty and integrity of the finished product, but at the immense creativity of the project as a whole. Explaining stem…Read more
Right Turn: Feathers as an example of stem cell complexity
Pea Hen Feather. Credit: Bill Gracey The arrival of summer’s songbirds to much of Canada over the past month makes this a fitting time to talk about feathers. Coincidentally, a paper was released in Science in late April that revealed how stem cells function to create an incredible array of colours and patterns in bird…Read more
Right Turn: A tail is a tail. Or is it?
. Entire limb or organ regeneration is held out to be the holy grail of regenerative medicine. As an example, we look to certain reptiles such as salamanders, geckos and lizards, which have the incredible ability to regrow limbs or tails. Lots has been written on what we currently know about limb regeneration and whether…Read more
Rush to publish and the repercussions of carelessness in science
Co-authored with Dr. Zubin Master, Assistant Professor at the Alden March Bioethics Institute, Albany Medical College and Research Associate at the University of Alberta’s Health Law and Science Policy Group. In the current discussion about the now controversial SCNT human cloning paper by Shoukhrat Mitalipov et al., much has already been said of the reported errors that resulted…Read more