Right Turn: Science is awesome

by Stacey Johnson | May 22, 2015

. “Science is often flawed” is the first half of the title of an article by Julia Belluz and Steven Hoffman of Vox.com. Lately, it feels like there are lots of articles pointing out that science is flawed and scientists are too. The stem cell and regenerative medicine...

Cellular Dynamics takes Fujifilm from cameras to combination products

by Paul Krzyzanowski | May 21, 2015

. By now, many of you will have heard of Fujifilm’s USD$307 million purchase of Cellullar Dynamics International (CDI). This may seem like a major entry into the regenerative medicine (RM) space for a company that’s better known for its imaging technologies than...

By all means, target the CSCs – but leave the normal stem cells out of it!

by Sara M. Nolte | May 19, 2015

. I’ve spent a number of posts going on and on about how targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) is the next big thing for cancer therapies, and how important it is that we study and learn all we can about them (know your enemy, right?). All of this has probably left you...

Right Turn: Research2Reality

by Stacey Johnson | May 15, 2015

. It was big science news in Canada this week when Professor Molly Shoichet, the University of Toronto’s senior advisor on science and engineering engagement, launched a $400,000 social media campaign to highlight the work of Canadian scientists in various...

What drives research in the field of biomaterials? Second in series

by Guest | May 11, 2015

. An interview with Professor John E. Davies, University of Toronto. By Hamideh Emrani The second post, in my interview series with biomaterials experts, is with my Master’s supervisor, Professor John (JED) Davies. He is an internationally recognized leader in bone...

Right Turn: Don’t go breaking my heart (epigenetics could if it tried)

by Guest | May 8, 2015

. By Camila Londono Camila Londono is currently an intern at CCRM, taking a break from working on her PhD at the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto under the supervision of Dr. Alison McGuigan. Her research focuses on...

Stem cells and their children – who inherits what?

by David Kent | May 5, 2015

. One of the most fascinating questions for me, since I entered the field of stem cell biology, has been how a stem cell chooses what to do when it divides. I’ve looked down the microscope at single cells, which look like little air bubbles for the most part, watched...

Right Turn: Are you an entrepreneur at heart?

by Stacey Johnson | May 1, 2015

. So you’ve developed an amazing regenerative medicine device or cell therapy, or you’ve discovered a molecule that you believe could eventually be developed into a drug for awakening stem cells in the body. What’s next? For some scientists, the next step could...

Cracking the code of pancreatic development: beta cells from iPS cells

by Mark Curtis | Apr 28, 2015

. After several years of intense systematic research, and toiling with a differentiation protocol, Dr. Doug Melton, and his lab at Harvard University, finally decoded the sequence of genes that needs to be activated to yield mature, insulin-producing beta cells in...

Right Turn: Gordie Howe and stem cell tourism

by Stacey Johnson | Apr 24, 2015

. In North America, former Detroit Red Wings player Gordie Howe is fondly referred to as “Mr. Hockey” after career achievements that included holding the NHL record for most games and seasons played, and leading the league in scoring from 1950 to 1954. You...