Right Turn: Canadian procedure stops MS in some patients

by Stacey Johnson | Jun 10, 2016

In 2002, Jennifer Molson received a stem cell transplant for her aggressive form of multiple sclerosis (MS), diagnosed six years earlier when she was 21. This unique treatment for MS – transplanting blood stem cells from a patient’s own bone marrow to replace the...

Highlights from the World Biomaterials Congress Part I: The push and pull of cell behaviour

by Samantha Payne | Jun 7, 2016

The World Biomaterials Congress (WBC), which takes place once every four years, happened last month. Among the many excellent presentations at WBC, two themes related to cell-based therapies stood out: 1) the use of biomaterials to study cell behaviour and...

Right Turn: If you don’t love the skin you’re in

by Stacey Johnson | Jun 3, 2016

Have you ever wanted to shed your skin? I don’t mean in the metaphorical sense like becoming a different person, free of all the old baggage we accumulate in life. And I’m not talking about CCRM’s new logo and colours either, but thanks for noticing. (Shameless.) I...

Ethics for early career stem cell researchers – are we missing a trick?

by David Kent | May 31, 2016

Throughout the last decade, I have undertaken research in the stem cell field in two countries (Canada and the United Kingdom) and while my work has never involved the ethically contentious human embryonic stem (ES) cell lines, I have interacted with dozens of...

Right Turn: On the right track to health and prosperity

by Stacey Johnson | May 27, 2016

The subway map is a popular metaphor for showing how to get from point A to point B with many stops along the way. It can be simple, with only a few intersecting lines of tracks – Toronto’s (shockingly inadequate) two-line system comes to mind – or complicated, like...

The out of this world story behind Endonovo’s regenerative medicine technology

by Paul Krzyzanowski | May 25, 2016

A few weeks ago, I came across an interesting story about a stem cell company with a peculiar patenting strategy. As I looked into it further, I realized I’d stumbled into a complicated corporate plot that became more incredible with every turn. Endonovo Therapeutics...

Right Turn: Making science fun and relatable

by Stacey Johnson | May 20, 2016

A popular marketing strategy is to reach (insert demographic) “where they live.” Science Genius appears to have taken that concept to heart when it comes to kids and science. Science Genius, launched in December 2012 by Christopher Emdin, the musician GZA and the...

Here’s a (r)evolutionary idea: using stem cells to study differences in species

by Holly Wobma | May 16, 2016

At the crossroad of developmental biology and tissue engineering, there is a group of scientists trying to delicately coax stem cells down a specific path. In the metaphoric sense, they are most interested in how the nature of their cells evolves over time. But what...

Right Turn: Resources for scientists

by Stacey Johnson | May 13, 2016

I’ve read enough PhD Comics to understand that being a scientist is hard. (I work with them too, but I’m saving those stories for my tell-all autobiography.) Recently I stumbled upon* what I believe could be a useful resource for scientists to make their lives a...

Understanding immortality, one slice at a time

by Guest | May 10, 2016

Jovana Drinjakovic is a science writer with a background in cell and developmental biology. After completing her PhD in Cambridge (the old one) and a postdoc at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Jovana decided to switch gears and enrolled in a journalism...