#stap cells

Whatever happened to the STAP cell scientists including Haruko Obokata?

Once upon a time this blog and major outlets around the world were regularly writing about a Japanese stem cell researcher named Haruko Obokata (小保方 晴子).

Whatever happened to Obokata and the other folks directly involved in STAP cell research?

First, a bit of background because maybe still a few people never heard of STAP cells and Obokata or forgot the key points behind the controversy.

Haruko…

The Niche’s 2,000th post: where do we go from here?

2,000 is a big number.

As of this week I’ve now published 2,000 posts here on The Niche since I started back in early 2010. I can’t quite believe it myself.

To celebrate that milestone, I have revamped The Niche in terms of its organization and style with the help of a very skilled web developer.

You might have noticed some of these changes around here. I hope you like them. The site should be…

Higher apparent stem cell paper retraction rates versus cancer papers

The fast-moving stem cell field has enjoyed remarkable progress in the past 10 years despite some issues such as instances of stem cell paper retraction. This “modern” stem cell era that includes induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSC) has been striking for progress despite some challenges such as issues with publications.

As a maturing field it is important to view our future through the realistic…

Haruko Obokata (小保方 晴子) launches new website with STAP claims

Image from Obokata website

Even as the book of Haruko Obokata (小保方 晴子) is fading in popularity on Amazon Japan, there is some other news with her as she has launched a new website.

The website, STAP Hope Page, seems to often not work now, but you can also see it here via Wayback Machine.

Hat tip to several readers and people on Twitter including Buvery and Bob Geller.

JIJI Press has confirmedthat…

Finally, Vacanti’s side of STAP cell implosion

Vacanti and Obokata

A great new piece in The New Yorker by Dana Goodyear, The Stress Test, gives us a window into Charles Vacanti’s side of the STAP cell mess and includes recent quotes from him.

It’s a long, fascinating look inside of STAP, the tangled and ultimately tragic scientific implosion that created and then brought down two Nature papers and some careers.

The most notable part of the…

Obokata questioned by police over STAP cell fiasco

Obokata presenting STAP in happier time

Haruko Obokata was reportedly questioned by police in Japan today.

The questioning relates to the STAP cell scandal that led to the retraction of two Nature papers.

As first author of the papers, Obokata and other authors had reported that they could make IPSC-like cells simply via acid or other stress treatment. However, it is now widely believed that the…

Haruko Obokata (小保方 晴子) book is a #1 best seller

Haruko Obokata wrote a book about the STAP cell scandal telling it from her perspective.

Fom all accounts I’ve seen, she has sought in her writings to shift the blame away from herself. She even claimed she was framed by other scientists.

Will this book have any impact? Many scientists thought it would make a splash and then fade away.

Not so, at least so far.

At present Obokata’s book is the #1…

Obokata claims she was framed for STAP cell scandal

Obokata late presser

The Japan Times has the first detailed account in English about Haruko Obokata’s new book, “That Day”.

In the book, Obokata (who was widely blamed for the STAP cell fiasco) seeks to shift the blame to others according to the paper.

Obokata’s book just came out and you can see more details here.

According The Japan Times, in the book Obokata largely blames one of her mentors T…