Stem Cell Clinic

American Heart Association’s Research Achievement Award Presented to Harvard Scientist Peter Libby, MD, Who Discovered Role of Inflammation in CVD -…

By adminNovember 17, 2019Uncategorized

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 17, 2019 The American Heart Association, a global force for longer, healthier lives, has awarded its Research Achievement Award, recognizing a lifetime of extraordinary contributions to cardiovascular research, to Peter Libby, M.D., FAHA, Mallinckrodt Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a cardiovascular specialist at Brigham and Womens Hospital (BWH) in Boston.

Dr. Libbys pioneering work unraveling the role of inflammation in cardiovascular disease has been nothing short of paradigm changing. His career-long quest to understand how inflammation contributes to atherogenesis substantially deepened our understanding of heart disease, and his ability to translate his findings into the clinic has led to the development of novel new treatment strategies, said American Heart Association President Robert A. Harrington, M.D., FAHA, who presented the award.

Dr. Libbys independent research career included numerous first discoveries in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, including some of the mechanisms that lead to heart attack and stroke, said Dr. Harrington.

The award was presented today at the American Heart Associations Scientific Sessions 2019 in Philadelphia. The Associations Scientific Sessions is an annual, premier global exchange of the latest advances in cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians.

Dr. Libby instigated and helped to lead the first large-scale, randomized clinical trial establishing inflammation as a therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease. His laboratory has focused on investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms of atherosclerosis, and he continues to lead investigations that will add to our understanding of risk factors for atherosclerotic events and heart failure, among other important research questions, the award notes.

Inflammation was not considered a critically important contributor to atherogenesis prior to Dr. Libbys investigations. Indeed, the field focused largely on lipid metabolism and proliferation of smooth muscle cells when Dr. Libby began his independent research career, noted Jonathan D. Smith, professor of molecular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, in a letter nominating Dr. Libby for the Research Achievement Award.

Over 30 years of research, Dr. Libbys discoveries included the finding that vascular wall cells can produce, as well as respond to, pro-inflammatory cytokines (especially Interleukin-1) small proteins that are important in cell signaling.

This discovery, initially met with considerable skepticism, laid the foundation for the recognition of novel paracrine and autocrine inflammatory cytokine signaling pathways in arterial disease, a mechanism now widely validated, Smith concluded.

Dr. Libby is a longtime American Heart Association volunteer. He is also a consulting physician at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He served as Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at BWH from 1998-2014 after heading its Vascular Medicine and Atherosclerosis Unit from 1990-1997. Prior to joining BWH, Dr. Libby was at Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston.

Dr. Libby earned his medical degree at the University of California, San Diego, and completed his training in internal medicine and cardiology at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (now Brigham and Womens Hospital). He also holds an honorary Master of Arts degree from Harvard University, and honorary doctorates from the Universit de Lille, France, and Universit Laval in Qubec. He has received numerous awards and recognitions for his research accomplishments, including the Basic Research Prize of the American Heart Association (2011), the Anitschkow Prize in Atherosclerosis Research of the European Atherosclerosis Society (2013), the Special Award of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology (2014) and the Ernst Jung Gold Medal for Medicine( 2016.) He has received a number of other awards including several lifetime achievement awards from various organizations.

Additional Resources:

The American Heart Associations Scientific Sessions is a premier global exchange of the latest advances in cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians. Scientific Sessions 2019 is November 16-18 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. More than 12,000 leading physicians, scientists, cardiologists and allied health care professionals from around the world convene at the Scientific Sessions to participate in basic, clinical and population science presentations, discussions and curricula that can shape the future of cardiovascular science and medicine, including prevention and quality improvement. During the three-day meeting, attendees receive exclusive access to over 4,100 original research presentations and can earn Continuing Medical Education (CME), Continuing Education (CE) or Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credits for educational sessions. Engage in the Scientific Sessions conversation on social media via #AHA19.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the publics health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

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American Heart Association's Research Achievement Award Presented to Harvard Scientist Peter Libby, MD, Who Discovered Role of Inflammation in CVD -...

Crizanlizumab for Sickle Cell Pain Reduction Approved by FDA – Drug Topics

By adminNovember 17, 2019Uncategorized

The FDA today approved Novartis crizanlizumab, previously known as SEG101, indicated for the reduction in frequency of vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) in adult and pediatric patients at least 16 years of age and older.

Crizanlizumab is currently the first and only approved biologic that works by binding to P-selectin, a cell adhesion protein that involved in multicellular interactions and can lead to vaso-occulsion in sickle cell disease, according to Novartis officialstatement. Novartis says that by binding to p-selectin on the surface of an activated endothelium and platelets, crizanlizumab blocks interactions between endothelial cells, platelets, RBCs, and leukocytes.

The approval of Adakveo marks a new era in the treatment of sickle cell disease, a genetic condition that places an extraordinary burden of unpredictable pain crises on patients and their families, saidSusanne Schaffert, PhD, president, Novartis Oncology says in astatement. The stories we have heard from patients about their sickle cell pain crises are devastating. We are pleased to help reimagine medicine together with the sickle cell community and offer new hope for fewer VOCs.

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Todays approval is based upon the results of a SUSTAIN, a randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind study that included 196 patients with any genotype of sickle cell disease and a history of 2-10 VOCs in the previous 12 months.

The primary efficacy outcome for SUSTAIN, according to the release, was the annual rate of VOCs leading to a healthcare visit (i.e,. an acute episode of pain with no cause other than a vaso-occulsive event that required a medical facility visit and treatment with oral or parenteral opioids, or parenteral NSAIDs; acute chest syndrome; hepatic sequestration; splenic sequestration; and priapism requiring a visit to a medical facility).

Overall, the annual rate of VOCs in the crizanlizumab arm (1.63) experienced a 45% reduction compared to the placebo arm (2.98). Reductions in thecrizanlizumab arm were observed regardless of sickle cell genotype and/or hydroxyurea use.

Secondary and other efficacy outcomes included the annual rate of days hospitalized (crizanlizumab: 4 days; placebo: 6.87 days), the time to first VOC leading to a healthcare visit, and the number of patients that did not experience a VOC.

Read More:CRP Blood Test May Help Reduce Antibiotics Prescribed for COPD Flare-Ups

Warnings and precautions issued with crizanlizumab include infusion-related reactions and interference with automated platelet counts (i.e., platelet clumping).

Adverse reactions reported with the use of crizanlizumab include nausea, arthralgia, back pain, and pyrexia.

Novartis says that crizanlizumab should be available within the coming weeks.

Full Prescribing Information

See the article here:
Crizanlizumab for Sickle Cell Pain Reduction Approved by FDA - Drug Topics

Study: The secret of living to 110 – msnNOW

By adminNovember 17, 2019Uncategorized

The secret to living past 100 could lie in your immune system, suggests a new study.

In a study recently publishedin Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), scientists found that supercentenarians those who are 110 years of age or older have an overabundance of a certain type of disease-fighting cell within their immune systems, possibly explaining their longevity.

To come to this conclusion, researchers looked at the circulating immune cells from supercentenarians and controls aged 50 to 89. About 41,208 immune cell samples were taken from seven supercentenarians, while 19,993 cells were collected from the five controls.

The study found that while the supercentenarians and controls had roughly the same amount of T-cells overall, the former group had an excess amount of one particular subset of T-cells called cytotoxic CD4 T-cells. These cells, according to a news releaseon the findings, are aggressive and quickly destroy cancer and infection-causing cells.

In some cases, the cytotoxic CD4 T-cells accounted for 80 percent of the supercentenarians T-cells, while only 10 to 20 percent of the T-cells in the controls were cytotoxic CD4 T-cells, according to the research, which wasconducted by the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Science (IMS) and Keio University School of Medicine in Japan.

The super immune system cells are likely not a marker of youth, but rather a special characteristic of the supercentenarians, the researchers wrote. The cytotoxic CD4 T-cells are likely the offspring of a sole ancestor cell.

We believe that this type of cells, which are relatively uncommon in most individuals, even young, are useful for fighting against established tumors, and could be important for immunosurveillance, said Piero Carninci, the deputy director of RIKEN, in a statement. This is exciting as it has given us new insights into how people who live very long lives are able to protect themselves from conditions such as infections and cancer."

Gallery: 100 Ways to Live to 100 (Provided by Best Life)

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Study: The secret of living to 110 - msnNOW

Allogene allies with Notch to make CAR-T production more scalable – BioPharma-Reporter.com

By adminNovember 17, 2019Stem Cell Clinic

Last year, Arie Belldegrun and David Chang, fresh from selling chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T pioneer Kite Pharma to Gilead Sciences, launched Allogene with $300m (271m) and a deal with Pfizer to access off-the-shelf cell therapies. The focus then, as now, was on taking CAR-T therapies mainstream by eliminating factors that could restrict them to niche status, such as the complex, costly production process.

Allogenes founding allogeneic technology moves it some way toward that goal, by enabling therapies to be made from donor cells rather than having to engineer cells taken from the patient themselves.

However, even if the allogeneic approach works as Allogene hopes, it will still require a steady supply of donor cells. When Allogene launched, it set its sights on making up to 100 doses from one donor sample.

The finite nature of donated T cells has spurred interest in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), which could serve as a renewable source of materials for off-the-shelf CAR-T therapies. Notchs work to realize that potential caught the attention of Allogenes CEO, David Chang.

Chang said, We believe [it] to be a scalable and potentially more [good manufacturing practice] amenable manufacturing process. It might be amenable for large-scale manufacturing.

The early stage nature of the iPSC technology Notch is yet to enter the clinic means it is unclear whether the approach can live up to those expectations. An inability to show CAR-T doses are free from undifferentiated iPSCs and failure to generate functioning T cells from iPSCs are two potential stumbling blocks.

Allogene has seen enough potential to bet on Notch, though. The deal will see Allogene pay Notch $10m upfront, take a 25% stake in its new partner and commit to a package of milestones.

Notch will take iPSC AlloCAR T cells through preclinical development before Allogene steps in to test them in humans. Allogene will have global rights to any products resulting from the collaboration.

Other companies are also working to develop oncology cell therapies based on iPSCs. Fate Therapeutics is trialling an engineered natural killer cell therapy created from a clonal master iPSC line, while Bayer-backed startup Century Therapeutics recently raised $250m to take iPSC-derived treatments for blood cancers and solid tumors into the clinic. Takeda is also active in the space.

Continue reading here:
Allogene allies with Notch to make CAR-T production more scalable - BioPharma-Reporter.com

Stem Cell Media Market 2019| Recent Trends, In-depth Analysis, Market Size Research Report Forecast up to 2026 | Research Industry US – News Obtain

By adminNovember 17, 2019Stell Cell Research

Global Stem Cell Media market report is the first of its kind research report that covers the overview, market dynamics, competitive analysis, and leading players numerous strategies to sustain in the global market. This report covers five top regions of the world and countries within, which shows the status of regional development, consisting of volume, size, market value, and price data.

The report takes a dashboard view of an entire Stem Cell Media market by comprehensively analyzing market circumstance and situation and the various activities of leading players in the market such as mergers, partnerships, and acquisitions. This unique report explains the present industry situations that give the crystal-clear picture of the global Stem Cell Media market to the clients.

Request For Sample PDF Report (Kindly Use Your Bussiness/Corporate Email Id to Get Priority): http://researchindustry.us/report/stem-cell-media-market-ric/697128/request-sample

Market Segmentation

Key players considered in the report include

Thermo FisherSTEMCELL TechnologiesMerck MilliporeLonzaGE HealthcareMiltenyi BiotecCorningCellGenixTakaraPromoCell

On the basis of types, the global Stem Cell Media market is primarily split into

Pluripotent Stem Cell CultureHematopoietic Stem Cell CultureMesenchymal Stem Cell CultureOther

Based on application, the global Stem Cell Media market is primarily split into

Scientific ResearchIndustrial Production

Some of the significant factors such as marketing strategy, factor analysis, cost analysis, industrial chain, distributors and sourcing strategy are included in this report which makes it an exclusive one. The report on the global Stem Cell Media market report is compiled by industry experts and properly examined which will highlight the key information required by the clients.

Regional Analysis

A unit of the report has given comprehensive information about regional analysis. It provides a market outlook and sets the forecast within the context of the overall global Stem Cell Media market. Research Industry US has segmented the global Stem Cell Media market into major geographical regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Potential new entrants wishing to target only high growth areas are also included in this informative section of the global Stem Cell Media market.

Based on geography, the global Stem Cell Media market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and The Middle East & Africa. North America is further divided in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, whereas Europe consists of the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Rest of Europe. India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Rest of Asia-Pacific are the categorization of the Asia-Pacific region. The South America region includes Brazil, Argentina, and the Rest of South America, while The Middle East & Africa is categorized into GCC Countries, Egypt, South Africa, and the Rest of the Middle East & Africa.

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International Stem Cell Corporation Announces Financial Results for the Three and Nine-Months ended September 30, 2019 – Yahoo Finance

By adminNovember 17, 2019Stell Cell Research

CARLSBAD, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 15, 2019 / International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO) (www.internationalstemcell.com) ("ISCO" or "the Company"), a California-based clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel stem cell-based therapies and biomedical products, today announced operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019.

"As we mentioned before we completed the enrollment of the Phase I Parkinson's disease clinical trial and currently involved in reorganizing our revenue-generating subsidiaries. We expect that we will see positive results of this reorganization next year." - commented Andrey Semechkin, PhD., CEO and Co-Chairman of ISCO.

Year-to-Date Financial Highlights

About International Stem Cell Corporation

International Stem Cell Corporation is focused on the therapeutic applications of human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs) and the development and commercialization of cell-based research and cosmetic products. ISCO's core technology, parthenogenesis, results in the creation of pluripotent human stem cells from unfertilized oocytes (eggs). hpSCs avoid ethical issues associated with the use or destruction of viable human embryos. ISCO scientists have created the first parthenogenetic, homozygous stem cell line that can be a source of therapeutic cells for hundreds of millions of individuals of differing genders, ages and racial background with minimal immune rejection after transplantation. hpSCs offer the potential to create the first true stem cell bank, UniStemCell. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology (www.lifelinecelltech.com), and stem cell-based skin care products through its subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care (www.lifelineskincare.com). More information is available at http://www.internationalstemcell.com.

To subscribe to receive ongoing corporate communications, please click on the following link: http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1468&to=ea&s=0

To like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter for company updates and industry related news, visit: http://www.facebook.com/InternationalStemCellCorporation and http://www.twitter.com/intlstemcell

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements pertaining to anticipated developments, expected results of clinical studies, progress of research and development, and other opportunities for the company and its subsidiaries, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates,") should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, application of capital resources among competing uses, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the company's business, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The company disclaims any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements.

Story continues

International Stem Cell Corporation and SubsidiariesCondensed Consolidated Balance Sheets(in thousands, except share data and par value)(Unaudited)

Assets

Cash

Accounts receivable, net

Inventory, net

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

Total current assets

Non-current inventory

Property and equipment, net

Intangible assets, net

Right-of-use assets

Deposits and other assets

Total assets

Liabilities, Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock, and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)

Accounts payable

Accrued liabilities

Operating lease liabilities, current

Related party payable

Advances

Warrant liability

Total current liabilities

Long-term deferred rent

Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion

Total liabilities

Commitments and Contingencies

Series D Redeemable Convertible Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 50 shares authorized, 43 issued and

outstanding, with liquidation preference of $4,300 at September 30, 2019

Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)

Series B Convertible Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, 250,000

issued and outstanding, with liquidation preferences of $423 and $411 at September 30, 2019 and

December 31, 2018

Series D Convertible Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 50 shares authorized, 43 issued and

outstanding, with liquidation preference of $4,300 at December 31, 2018

Series G Convertible Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, issued and

outstanding, with liquidation preference of $5,000 at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018

Series I-1 Convertible Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 2,000 shares authorized, 814 issued and

outstanding, with liquidation preferences of $814 at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018

Series I-2 Convertible Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 4,310 shares authorized,

issued and outstanding with liquidation preference of $4,310 at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018

Common stock, $0.001 par value, 120,000,000 shares authorized, 7,533,083 and 6,933,861 shares

issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018

Additional paid-in capital

Accumulated deficit

Total stockholders' equity (deficit)

Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders' equity (deficit)

International Stem Cell Corporation and SubsidiariesCondensed Consolidated Statements of Operations(in thousands, except per share data)(Unaudited)

Revenues

Product sales

Total revenues

Expenses

Cost of sales

Research and development

Selling and marketing

General and administrative

Total expenses

Loss from operations

Other income (expense)

Change in fair value of warrant liability

Interest expense

Miscellaneous income

Total other income (expense), net

Net income (loss)

Net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders

Net income (loss) per common share-basic

Net income (loss) per common share-diluted

Weighted average shares-basic

Weighted average shares-diluted

Contacts:

International Stem Cell CorporationRussell A. Kern, PhDPhone: 760-940-6383Email: ir@intlstemcell.com

SOURCE: International Stem Cell CORP

View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/566897/International-Stem-Cell-Corporation-Announces-Financial-Results-for-the-Three-and-Nine-Months-ended-September-30-2019

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International Stem Cell Corporation Announces Financial Results for the Three and Nine-Months ended September 30, 2019 - Yahoo Finance

Quality of Life With Busulfan and Fludarabine Compared With Busulfan and Cyclophosphamide – Hematology Advisor

By adminNovember 17, 2019Stell Cell Research

Myeloablative conditioning with busulfan and fludarabine (bu/flu) may produce similar clinical outcomes and quality of life (QOL) compared with conditioning with busulfan and cyclophosphamide (bu/cy) for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), according to research published in Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy.

Although bu/cy and bu/flu are both standard myeloablative conditioning regimens for alloHCT, they have not yet been studied with a focus on quality of life. Researchers conducted a single center, retrospective analysis of adult patients who received a first T-cell-replete human leukocyte antigen-8/8 matched related or unrelated donor alloHCT. The study included 126 patients with AML and 84 patients with MDS. All patients were 18 years or older and were treated between 2008 and 2017.

Quality of life was measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant Scale (FACT-BMT) questionnaire.

The researchers found no significant differences in FACT-BMT scores between patients receiving bu/cy and patients receiving bu/flu in both the AML and MDS cohorts. No significant difference was found to for mucositis severity either.

When patients with AML were analyzed separately, the researchers found that those receiving bu/flu had more rapid neutrophil and platelet recovery compared with patients receiving bu/cy, as well as a shorter median hospital stay. No differences were found in other post-transplant outcomes.

In the MDS cohort, the researchers found that patients receiving bu/flu had more rapid platelet recovery and a shorter median hospital stay as well as greater risk for cytomegalovirus infection compared with patients receiving bu/cy. However, patients receiving bu/flu experienced decreased risk for nonrelapse mortality. There were no significant differences in other outcomes.

Previous studies examining these 2 regimens have found no differences regarding hematopoietic engraftment kinetics, risk for grade 3 or 4 mucositis, graft-versus-host disease, relapse, and nonrelapse mortality. The current study suggests quality of life may also be similar between the regimens. Future formal cost-effectiveness analyses of these regimens would be appropriate to better assess the implications for resource utilization, wrote the authors.

Reference

1. Patel SS, Rybicki L, Pohlman B, et al. Comparative effectiveness of busulfan/cyclophosphamide versus busulfan/fludarabine myeloablative conditioning for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome [published online October 11, 2019]. doi:10.1016/j.hemonc.2019.09.002

Excerpt from:
Quality of Life With Busulfan and Fludarabine Compared With Busulfan and Cyclophosphamide - Hematology Advisor

‘Dr. Death’ and ‘Bad Batch’ Host Laura Beil on the Future of Podcasts – ELLE.com

By adminNovember 17, 2019Stell Cell Research

Laura Beil was skeptical when Wondery called her two years ago. The sensationalistic podcast hitmaker behind Dirty John needed a host for its new series about Christopher Duntsch, the infamous Dallas neurosurgeon accused of maiming his patients. Beil, a veteran Dallas Morning News medical reporter, hadn't listened to a true crime podcast in full, let alone reported one. She'd certainly never heard of Wondery. "I said, 'I'm a print journalist,'" she tells ELLE.com. "Why are you calling me?" With some hesitation, she agreed to do it. Today, she's grateful she did.

Since airing last September, Dr. Death has been downloaded more than 50 million times and ordered as a television series. On the heels of its massive success, Wondery greenlit a second Beil-led podcast, Bad Batch, now available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. In the six-part investigative series, she takes listeners through the crazy, complicated world of stem cell medical treatment. Like Dr. Death, there's a narrative arc (corrupt system, suspicious CEO, unsuspecting victims); unlike Dr. Death, she says, it serves a real purpose. "The chances of you coming across a horrible neurosurgeon are pretty slim," she says, "but the chances of you or someone you love wanting to spend a bunch of money on stem cells because you're promised a miracle cure? That's much higher. This has a greater chance of having an impact on listeners."

Bad Batch has already garnered 3 million listeners since it debuted three weeks ago, and is now the fourth most popular show on Apple podcasts, ahead of rival My Favorite Murder.

On the phone, Beil and I discuss her transition to audio from print journalism, the future of true crime content in a frenetic digital age, and her secret sauce to producing a hit podcast.

Apparently a Dirty John listener had emailed Wondery saying, "Hey, have you heard of Christopher Duntsch?" They wanted a journalist who had knowledge of the healthcare system in Dallas, where Duntsch practiced, to look into him, and that's a pretty short list. When they called, I hadn't even heard of Wondery. But I decided to take a chance on it.

Journalism is journalism. There are some things I had to get used to, of course. For example, in print journalism, if you need something else, you can go back and get it from a source. You'll email or you'll text somebody to follow up as you find out you need more details. With audio, you just have one shot. It's a lot harder to go back and reinterview someone. You have to make the one interview really count, and that means asking the same question over and over again in a different way, to get details that draw people out. It's something that I'm still learning how to do, frankly.

The feedback about my voice has been all over the place. I didn't get so much with Dr. Death, but for Bad Batch I am. Listeners will say, "Oh, the narrator's too dramatic." And then someone else will say, "Oh, the narrator's too robotic." It's all conflicting. My favorite bit of feedback was from a listener who said they preferred the host of Dr. Death to Bad Batch.

I don't see true crime being dethroned anytime soon. It will always dominate, because people love it. That said, Bad Batch doesn't necessarily fit in the true crime box. There wasn't really a crime, and nobody died. What you need, just like in a print piece, is a good central narrative to hang your story off. The stem cell story is complicated, because you can't just say it's all a big con job. There's legitimate stem cell research going on. The business is growing so much and most of the information about it is coming from people trying to sell it. There's a lot to explore and explain.

In this business, so much is contracting, like newspapers, so it's nice to see one aspect of journalism that's expanding. To see more demand for audio journalism is heartening. It's reviving a lot of the long-form storytelling that's been cut in other places. Dr. Death had 50 million downloads. The same story was told in print on ProPublica, which is a hugely popular website, and yet the response from our audio was so much greater. A lot of things that we're told people want nowadaysshorter stories that are more clickable and scannablewell, you can't do that with a podcast. I can't explain it, but people can't get enough of podcasts.

I do enjoy doing the audio stuff, but I have to say, in my heart of hearts, I'm still a print writer. If I had to give up one or the other, I'd give up the audio.

[Laughs] With two number one podcasts out in a row, Wondery is like, "Do you have anything else?" After Dr. Death, I had so many emails from people saying, "Here's another horrible doctor to look into." It was depressing. I don't want to do another bad doctor story, I want to do something completely different. I want it to be the right story. It'll be something medical of course.

Originally posted here:
'Dr. Death' and 'Bad Batch' Host Laura Beil on the Future of Podcasts - ELLE.com

Bioethics Coming to Elementary and High Schools? – Discovery Institute

By adminNovember 17, 2019Stell Cell Research

Bioethicist Jacob M. Appel wants the bioethics movement to educate your children about the policy and personal conundrums that involve medical care and health public policy. He claims that most of us give little thought to issues that may arise, such as end-of-life care and prenatal screening. Then, when an issue does come up, people are unprepared to make wise and informed decisions.

From, The Silent Crisis of Bioethics Illiteracy, published in Scientific American:

Change will only occur when bioethics is broadly incorporated into school curricula [at an early age] and when our nations thought leaders begin to place emphasis on the importance of reflecting meaningfully in advance upon these issues

Often merely recognizing such issues in advance is winning the greater part of the battle. Just as we teach calculus and poetry while recognizing that most students are unlikely to become mathematicians or bards, bioethics education offers a versatile skill set that can be applied to issues well outside the scientific arena. At present, bioethics is taught sporadically at various levels, but not with frequency, and even obtaining comprehensive data on its prevalence is daunting.

Is this really an appropriate field for children? Consider the issues with which bioethics grapples and whether elementary-, middle-, and high-school children have the maturity to grapple with them in a meaningful and deliberative way (not to mention, the acute potential that teachers will push their students in particular ideological directions):

Even if some students are mature enough to grapple with these issues thoughtfully, the next problem is that bioethics is extremely contentious and wholly subjective. Its not science, but focuses on questions of philosophy, morality, ideology, religion, etc.. Moreover, there is a dominant point-of-view among the most prominent voices in the field e.g., those who teach at leading universities and would presumably be tasked with writing the educational texts. These perspectives would unquestionably often stand in opposition to the moral values taught young students by their parents.

Appel is typical of the genus (if you will). He has called for paying women who plan to abort to gestate longer in their pregnancy so that more dead fetuses will be available sufficiently developed to be harvested for organs and used in experiments. He advocates mandatory termination of care for patients who are diagnosed as persistently unconscious to save resources for what he considers more important uses. He has also supported assisted suicide for the mentally ill.

Indeed, activists without a modifier like Catholic or pro-life before the term bioethicist are overwhelmingly very liberal politically and intensely secular in their approach. Most support an almost unlimited right to abortion, the legalization of assisted suicide, genetic engineering (once safe), and accept distinguishing between human beings and persons, that is, they deny universal human equality.

Some wish to repeal the dead donor rule that requires organ donors to be dead before their body parts are extracted an idea that admittedly remains somewhat controversial in the field. Most mainstream bioethicists deny the sanctity of human life and many think that an animal with a greater cognitive capacity has greater value than a human being with lower cognition. Add in the sectors general utilitarianish approach to health-care issues, such as supporting rationing, and the potential for propagandizing becomes clear.

With such opinions, often passionately held, how long would it be before early bioethics education devolved into rank proselytizing? But Wesley, Appel might say, the classes would be objective! Every side would be given equal and a respectful and accurate presentation.

Sure. If you believe that, you must think current sex education curricula and high school classes in social justice present all sides of those issues dispassionately and without attempt to persuade the students to particular points of view and cultural perspectives.

I have a deal for Appel: In-depth courses in bioethics should not be taught before college unless I get to write the textbooks! I promise to be objective and fairly present all sides. Honest!

Do you think he and his mainstream colleagues would approve of that deal?

Neither do I. And we shouldnt go along with his idea for the very same reason.

Photo credit:cherylt23 viaPixabay.

Cross-posted at The Corner.

WCM-Q explores law and ethics of stem cells and AI in medicine – Gulf Times

By adminNovember 17, 2019Stem Cell Medicine

The legal and ethical implications of using stem cells and artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine were discussed at the latest instalment of Weill Cornell Medicine Qatars (WCM-Q) Intersection of Law & Medicine series.Expert speakers at the event discussed the impact of recent advances in stem cell science and AI on the practice of medicine in Qatar and explored how new legal frameworks could be developed to protect the rights and safety of patients in the Mena region.The day-long event was organised by WCM-Q in collaboration with Hamad Bin Khalifa University and the University of Malaya of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Stem cells are an exciting area for medical researchers because they have the potential to repair damaged or diseased tissues in people with conditions such as Parkinsons disease, type 1 diabetes, stroke, cancer, and Alzheimers disease, among many others.Stem cells can also be used by researchers to test new drugs for safety and effectiveness.Stem cells have the capacity for unlimited or prolonged self-renewal, and they can differentiate themselves into many different cell types to become tissue- or organ-specific cells with special functions, said Dr Amal Robay, WCM-Q assistant professor in genetic medicine and director of research compliance.The central ethical dilemma of stem cell science arises from the fact that embryonic stem cells are derived from human embryos or by cloning, she explained.Visiting bioethics expert Dr Jeremy Sugarman of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, US said that the public image of stem cell research had been damaged by a small number of high-profile cases in which scientists had behaved unethically.The field had also been hampered by different countries applying different laws to stem cell research, making international collaboration problematic, he said.Meanwhile, the use of AI in healthcare has the potential to leverage analysis of large amounts of data to improve patient outcomes, but poses ethical concerns regarding privacy, the diversity of data sources, biases and relying on non-human entities for potentially life-changing decisions.Its very important that we bridge that gap between the professions of law and medicine, and that we understand the fundamental importance of ethicists to the advance of science, said Dr Barry Solaiman, assistant professor of law in the College of Law and Public Policy at HBKU .We need to consider how lawyers can help to develop laws to ensure that science advances and that it does so in ways that protect everyone involved.The event, which was co-directed by Dr Solaiman and Dr Thurayya Arayssi, professor of clinical medicine and senior associate dean for medical education and continuing professional development at WCM-Q, also featured other expert speakers.Dr Mohamed Firdaus bin Abdul Aziz of the Faculty of Law at the University of Malaya, who spoke about stem cell regulations around the world, Dr Faisal Farooq of Qatar Computing Research Institute, who spoke about AI in healthcare, Dr Effy Vayena of the Swiss Institute of Technology on the ethical challenges of using machine learning in healthcare, Dr Sharon Kaur of the Faculty of Law at the University of Malaya on global regulation of AI, and Dr Mohamed Ghaly of Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies on Islamic perspectives of bioethics in stem cell research.The visiting experts also engaged in two panel discussions, one examining the law and ethics of stem cell science, chaired by Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, dean of medicine at the University of Malaya, and one on AI in healthcare chaired by Dr Thurayya Arayssi, professor of clinical medicine and senior associate dean for medical education and continuing professional development at WCM-Q.