NewsBlog: NIH botched biolab safety study: NRC Posted by Kerry Grens [Entry posted at 30th November 2007 06:12 PM GMT] The NIH's safety assessment of a controversial Boston University laboratory did not thoroughly develop worst case scenarios or adequately compare safety risks at other proposed sites, finds a National Research Council report. The council released its 28-page report yesterday (November 29th) after the Massachusetts government commissioned it to review the NIH appraisal, which had... Click to continue Comment on this blog NewsBlog: Banned scientist now at Schering-Plough Posted by Kerry Grens [Entry posted at 30th November 2007 03:56 AM GMT] A scientist that the University of Washington found guilty of research misconduct is now an employee of the pharmaceutical company, Schering-Plough. In an Email to The Scientist, a company spokesperson, Stephen Galpin, confirmed that Scott Brodie, a former UW researcher, "is a current employee and that we recently became aware of the University of Washington investigation." The university's investigation into Brodie's work found 15 instances of faked data,... Click to continue View comment (1) | Comment on this blog NewsBlog: Chair named for ousted surgeon Posted by Kerry Grens [Entry posted at 29th November 2007 05:06 PM GMT] After spending millions on behalf of a heart surgeon's legal dispute, the University of Minnesota has agreed to shell out another half million honoring his name. John Najarian, a heart surgeon formerly at the center of a major legal dispute between the University of Minnesota and the US government, will lend his name to a newly endowed chair at the university, the Pioneer Press ... Click to continue Comment on this blog NewsBlog: Circulating stem cells add roaming immunity Posted by Kerry Grens [Entry posted at 29th November 2007 05:02 PM GMT] Circulating stem cells from bone marrow recognize tissues in distress and stimulate an innate immune response, according to findings published today in Cell. The researchers identified new pathways for these circulating hematopoietic cells, and propose that their travels contribute additional immune cells to tissues experiencing damage or infection. "Stem cells are much more adventurous in a way than... Click to continue Comment on this blog NewsBlog: U Wash HIV researcher faked data Posted by Kerry Grens [Entry posted at 29th November 2007 04:02 PM GMT] A former University of Washington researcher has lost a lawsuit against the Seattle Times over the disclosure of a report detailing his research misconduct. Scott Brodie, who studied HIV and herpes, sued the university and the newspaper to prevent the report from becoming public, but a judge decided in the newspaper's favor last week, the Times reported Wednesday (November 28). According to the... Click to continue View comments (2) | Comment on this blog NewsBlog: Fox Chase Cancer Center in building dispute Posted by Kerry Grens [Entry posted at 27th November 2007 06:22 PM GMT] A leading cancer center in Philadelphia appears to be winning a battle with city residents to expand its clinical and research facilities. Fox Chase Cancer Center received the green light from a City Council committee Monday night to go ahead with an $800 million expansion. The Ok has been three years in the making because of objections from people who live in the area. The expansion will take up 19 acres of a park in the city, and residents don't want to see the expansion ... Click to continue Comment on this blog NewsBlog: Wilmut leaves nuclear transfer behind Posted by Kerry Grens [Entry posted at 19th November 2007 04:49 PM GMT] Ian Wilmut, the Scottish scientist who championed somatic-cell nuclear transfer -- most famously with the cloned sheep Dolly -- is choosing a different technique for his future research in stem cells. Wilmut has said he will shift his therapeutic focus from embryonic stem cells to induced pluripotent stem cells. As opposed to nuclear transfer with embryonic stem cells, this technique transfects adult fibroblast cells with transcription factors... Click to continue Comment on this blog NewsBlog: Will epigeneticist make Person of the Year? Posted by Kerry Grens [Entry posted at 16th November 2007 04:39 PM GMT] It's not every year you read "epigenetics" in a nomination for Time's Person of the Year. Duke professor Randy Jirtle sent an email this week to The Scientist's former intern Kelly Chi, letting her know that he had been nominated for Time Magazine's Person of the Year. Jirtle told me over the phone this morning that he was surprised and honored, but wasn't positive why... Click to continue Comment on this blog NewsBlog: Newt on neuroscience Posted by Kerry Grens [Entry posted at 6th November 2007 03:11 PM GMT] In a talk Monday (Nov 5) that received a standing ovation by several hundred neuroscientists, Newt Gingrich urged scientists to pester lawmakers for greater research funding As the former Speaker of the House put it, "This is a multi-trillion dollar budget. They can always find the money if they want to." Gingrich tasked audience members to spend at least 15 minutes every six months appealing to lawmakers for funding. "If those who know are... Click to continue View comment (1) | Comment on this blog NewsBlog: The brain in silico Posted by Kerry Grens [Entry posted at 5th November 2007 09:44 PM GMT] At the Society for Neuroscience's annual meeting today (Nov 5), Kathie Olsen laughingly introduced Kwabena Boahen's talk with, "Good luck." Boahen, a Stanford bioengineering professor, went on to describe his ambitious goals of creating affordable supercomputers neuroscientists can use in... Click to continue Comment on this blog

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