Written by Alex on January 25, 2009 – 12:01 pm
In a long overdue move, the FDA approved the first clinical trial in people using embryonic stem cells. The approval comes just days after Barack Obama was sworn in as President. This could signal a reversal of past policies that strictly forbade the government’s involvement in and funding of embryonic stem cell research. In an [...]
Written by Alex on January 18, 2009 – 3:30 pm
A fascinating article, video, and reader comment board at the New York Times online is must-read material for anyone curious about clinical trials. Written by reporter Pam Belluck, the article, “Test Subjects Who Call the Scientist Mom or Dad,” examines the ethical implications and potential impact on children and clinical trials when parents use their [...]
Written by Alex on January 17, 2009 – 7:30 pm
One cannot live on news about clinical trials alone. One must make time to enjoy the stimulating worlds of art and culture. But where to start in this blogged-out, hyper-informationalized world? Start by going to http://scott-timberg.blogspot.com/ The site features insightful writing by an honest, wry, and insightful writer named Scott Timberg, formerly an arts [...]
Written by Alex on January 10, 2009 – 10:22 am
When I went to Uganda to do research on clinical trials for the book, of course I took pictures. They included the typical shots on safari of elephants, hippos, and birds. I took pics of warthogs kneeling right outside the door of my bungalow at the Mweya Lodge in Queen Elizabeth State Park. I also [...]
Written by Alex on January 9, 2009 – 11:12 am
A small group of scientists from the Food and Drug Administration in a letter to President-elect Obama complained of “corruption” at the agency in how medical devices were approved. The letter puts the spotlight on how clinical trials are only as effective as the way in which the results are interpreted. In one case, [...]