#  Media Mentions 2015 

 



### **December 2015**

**12/14/15** Konrad Hochedlinger, HSCI Principal Faculty member, identified a gene that when suppressed helps cells lose their "memory," making them more susceptible to reprogramming into iPS cells. *Featured:* [Science 2.0](http://www.science20.com/news_articles/cell_memory_loss_enables_the_production_of_stem_cells-161902), [GEN News](http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/amnesia-renders-cells-more-susceptible-to-suggestion/81252102/), [PhysOrg](http://phys.org/news/2015-12-cell-memory-loss-enables-production.html), [HNGN](http://www.hngn.com/articles/160325/20151214/cell-memory-loss-researchers-discover-method-of-creating-stem-cells-by-erasing-cell-memory.htm), [Science Codex](http://www.sciencecodex.com/cell_memory_loss_enables_the_production_of_stem_cells-171809), [NewsWise](http://www.newswise.com/articles/memory-loss-enables-the-production-of-stem-cells)

**12/03/15**  HSCI Principal Faculty member George Daley provides expert commentary about the moral and ethical quandary of using gene-editing in human cells. *Featured*: [The New York Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/04/science/crispr-cas9-human-genome-editing-moratorium.html?ref=health&_r=0), [The Scientist](http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/44686/title/Let-s-Talk-Human-Engineering/)

### **November 2015**

**11/23/15** [The Boston Globe](https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2015/11/23/night-high-hopes-for-joslin-diabetes-center/AhKMfHVaiBajfN3wYBhezK/story.html) photographs HSCI co-founder and co-director Doug Melton at the Joslin Diabetes Center's16th annual High Hopes Gala. Melton received a Global Achievement Award that night.

**11/19/15** HSCI co-founder and co-director David Scadden speaks with [CBS Chicago](http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/11/19/2-investigators-stem-cell-treatment-a-miracle-cure-or-expensive-letdown/) about the lack of scientific evidence and literature backing stem cell clinics and treatment centers.

**11/19/15** [Boston Business Journal](http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/bioflash/2015/11/harvards-doug-melton-awarded-for-work-on-stem.html?ana=twt) publishes a Q&A with HSCI co-founder and co-director Doug Melton, who received a Global Achievement Award from Joslin Diabetes Center in recognition of his contributions to the field of diabetes research.

**11/04/15** HSCI Principal Faculty member Paola Arlotta reprograms neurons by turning one type of neuron into another type, and then shows that the way the new type of neurons communicate with their neuron neighbors can also change. *Featured*: [KurzweilAI News](/http:/www.kurzweilai.net/reprogramming-neurons-and-rewiring-the-brain), [Harvard Gazette](http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2015/11/neurons-reprogramed-in-animals/)

### **October 2015**

**10/26/15** Work from HSCI researchers Konrad Hochedlinger and Peter Park compares embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells to find if they are "functionally equivalent." *Featured*: [Phys.org](http://phys.org/news/2015-10-embryonic-stem-cells-artificial-equivalent.html), [Bio Edge](http://www.bioedge.org/bioethics/is-the-great-stem-cell-debate-over/11629), [GEN News](http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/embryonic-stem-cells-and-artificial-stem-cells-are-functionally-equivalent/81251919/), [Science](http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2015/10/reprogrammed-stem-cells-work-well-those-embryos), [Science 2.0](http://www.science20.com/news_articles/embryonic_stem_cells_and_artificial_stem_cells_whats_the_difference-158644), [The Scientist](http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles_view/articleNo/44356/title/Stem-Cell-Similarities/=), [The San Diego Union-Tribune](http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/oct/26/embryonic-induced-pluripotent-equal/)

**10/26/15** Researchers, led by HSCI Principal Faculty member Joseph Bonventre, use genetically-engineered, mini-kidney organdies to model genetic diseases. *Featured*: [GEN News](http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/disease-modeling-mini-kidneys-derived-from-crispred-stem-cells/81251899/), [News Medical](http://www.news-medical.net/news/20151023/Stem-cell-biology-and-gene-editing-techniques-offer-hope-for-kidney-regeneration.aspx), [Futurity](http://www.futurity.org/kidneys-stem-cells-1034412/)

**10/18/15**  HSCI researchers Joseph Bonventre, Albert Lam, and Todd Valerius created mature kidney structures from induced pluripotent stem cells. *Featured:* [Bioscience Technology](http://www.biosciencetechnology.com/news/2015/10/converting-skin-cells-stem-cells-creates-kidney-structures), [News Medical](http://www.news-medical.net/news/20151019/BWH-HSCI-establish-new-method-for-making-kidney-structures-from-stem-cells-derived-from-patients.aspx), [Harvard Gazette](http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2015/10/converting-skin-cells-to-stem-cells-creates-kidney-structures/), [Gizmodo](http://gizmodo.com/now-we-can-grow-kidney-structures-from-stem-cells-1737198553), [Laboratory Equipment](http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2015/10/mini-kidneys-grown-petri-dishes)

**10/01/15** In [The Scientist](http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles_view/articleNo/44097/title/Brain-Gain/=), an article exploring adult humans' ability to generate new neurons features the work of HSCI Principal Faculty Amar Sahay.

### **September 2015**

**09/28/15** European pharmaceutical company Roche Holding AG's collaborates with HSCI to screen for potential drugs to treat Autism. *Featured:* [BloombergBusiness](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-28/brains-in-a-dish-guide-autism-sleuths-seeking-first-medicines), [Chicago Daily Herald](http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lung-cancer-research-foundation-awards-21-million-in-grants-to-further-critical-research-300169506.html?%24G1Ref=), [Chicago Tribune](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-wp-blm-autism-936be6da-65e3-11e5-bdb6-6861f4521205-20150928-story.html)

**09/22/15** [BBC News](http://www.bbc.com/news/health-34312125) references HSCI Principal Faculty Member Harald Ott's work in an article about kidney regeneration.

**09/18/15** An article in the [Boston Globe](http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/09/17/regenerative-medicine-drawing-interest-from-entrepreneurs-and-investors/aoqyMEMK0LEOznel4Z7uCM/story.html?s_campaign=8315) pictures HSCI Executive Director Brock Reeve, who sat on a panel about gene and cell therapies at the BioPharma America conference.

**09/02/15** An article published in the September issue of [Discover Magazine](http://discovermagazine.com/2015/sept/10-cancer-treatment) features the work of HSCI Principal Faculty member Khalid Shah.

**09/02/15** A [Fox News](http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/09/02/neurologists-warn-against-potentially-dangerous-stem-cell-tourism/) article about stem cell tourism references a paper written and a panel organized by the Harvard Stem Cell Institute in 2013.

### **August 2015**

**08/12/15** HSCI Principal Faculty member Jeff Karp invents a new hydrogel that targets inflamed tissue and delivers drugs for those with inflammatory bowel disease. *Featured:* [BBC News](http://www.bbc.com/news/health-33868839), [Healthline News](http://www.healthline.com/health-news/new-gel-targets-tissue-in-inflammatory-bowel-disease-treatment-081215#1), [Medical Xpress](http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-08-hydrogel-inflammatory-bowel-disease.html), [Helio](http://www.healio.com/gastroenterology/inflammatory-bowel-disease/news/online/%7Ba4c7f48a-696c-4504-afdb-9cbf0ad0bec8%7D/breakthrough-inflammation-targeting-hydrogel-shows-promise-for-treating-ibd), [FierceBiotech Research](http://www.fiercebiotechresearch.com/story/harvardmit-group-sees-promise-targeted-ibd-drug-delivery-tech/2015-08-19), [OnMedica](http://www.onmedica.com/newsArticle.aspx?id=76ce8476-3866-48be-920c-966a02024f9f)

**08/11/15** [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/11/health/growing-limbs-in-the-lab/) features HSCI Principal Faculty member Harald Ott's limb regeneration work.

**08/03/15** HSCI Principal Faculty member Olivier Pourquie's work generating muscle fibers to study muscular dystrophy is featured in [Medical Daily](http://www.medicaldaily.com/scientists-use-stem-cells-create-muscle-fibers-lab-may-help-people-muscular-dystrophy-345912).

**08/01/15** In an article about nature-inspired bioengineering projects, [The Scientist](http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/43625/title/Inspired-by-Nature/) highlights the work of HSCI Principal Faculty member Jeff Karp.

### **July 2015**

**07/31/15** An article in [The Scientist](http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles_view/articleNo/43646/title/Ancient-Viruses-as-Gene-Therapy-Vectors/=) features the work of HSCI Affiliated Faculty member Luk Vandenberghe, who resurrected the structure of ancient viruses to help improve gene therapy.


### **June 2015**

**06/03/15** News articles feature the work of HSCI Principal Faculty member Harald Ott, who has "grown" and transplanted muscle and vascular cells in a rat. *Featured:* [Washington Post](http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/06/04/how-scientists-built-the-worlds-first-lab-grown-limbs/), [Forbes](http://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferhicks/2015/06/04/scientists-grow-first-bio-limb-in-lab/), [Wired](http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-06/04/growing-rat-limbs-in-the-lab), [New Scientist](http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22630243.300-worlds-first-biolimb-rat-forelimb-grown-in-the-lab.html#.VXHmXoe5_Ns), [Popular Science](http://www.popsci.com/wave-hello-first-lab-grown-rat-arm-video), [Discover](http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2015/06/04/regrow-entire-limb/#.VXHn-Ie5_Ns), [Newsweek](http://www.newsweek.com/bioartificial-rat-arm-grown-lab-could-be-precursor-transplantable-limbs-339950), [International Business Times](http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/first-artificial-biolimb-grown-under-lab-conditions-landmark-bio-artificial-limb-transplants-1504493), [Fox](http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/06/04/scientists-create-first-lab-grown-limb/), [Huffington Post UK](http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/06/04/massachusetts-general-hospital-scientists-generate-a-lab-created-limb-for-the-first-time_n_7508816.html), [BetaBoston](http://www.betaboston.com/news/2015/06/04/mass-general-researchers-grow-muscular-rat-arms-in-a-dish/), [Boston Business Journal](http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/health-care/2015/06/mgh-researchers-working-toward-personalized-limb.html), [The Verge](http://www.theverge.com/2015/6/4/8730453/rat-limb-biolimb-regeneration-decellularization), [Gizmag, ](http://www.gizmag.com/decellularization-rat-limb-transplant/37857/)[CNET](http://www.cnet.com/news/for-the-first-time-scientists-create-a-lab-grown-limb/)[, ](http://www.gizmag.com/decellularization-rat-limb-transplant/37857/)[Ottowa Sun](http://www.ottawasun.com/2015/06/04/scientists-grow-replacement-rat-limbs),[ ](http://www.gizmag.com/decellularization-rat-limb-transplant/37857/)[Yahoo News](http://news.yahoo.com/bioengineers-create-transplantable-quasi-living-limb-154307384.html)


### **May 2015**

**5/17/15** HSCI Principal Faculty member George Q. Daley comments on the ethics of stem cell clinics. *Featured:* [The Seattle Times](http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/lightly-regulated-stem-cell-clinics-a-wild-west-in-medical-world/), [Columbus Dispatch](http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/national_world/2015/05/18/lack-of-regulation-fosters-wild-west-feel.html), [San Jose Mercury News](http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_28139232/stem-cell-clinics-run-amok-amid-lack-regulation), [Boston Globe](http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/05/17/stem-cell-wild-west-takes-root-amid-lack-regulation/IeYHoQc4IZF2ysAgWbCT1I/story.html?event=event25)

**05/01/15** In [The Scientist](http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/42842/title/Hearts-on-Trial/) article about the future of cardiac cell therapies, Richard Lee discusses the ratio of clinical trials to basic research papers produced by the field.

### **April 2015** 

**04/22/15** HSCI Principal Faculty member George Q. Daley responds to a controversial gene-editing study and furthers public conversation regarding the ethical and moral implications of gene-editing technology. *Featured*: [The New York Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/24/health/chinese-scientists-edit-genes-of-human-embryos-raising-concerns.html?_r=0), [NPR](http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/04/23/401655818/critics-lash-out-at-chinese-scientists-who-edited-dna-in-human-embryos), [Smithsonian](/http:/www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/first-gene-editing-human-embryos-ignites-controversy-180955087/?no-ist), [Washington Post](http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/first-gene-editing-human-embryos-ignites-controversy-180955087/?no-ist), [Business Insider](http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-chinese-scientists-edit-human-embryos-2015-4), [The Seattle Times](http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/chinese-scientists-weve-edited-genes-of-human-embryos/), [Wired](http://www.wired.com/2015/04/america-needs-figure-ethics-gene-editing-now/), [New York Daily News](http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/scientists-create-genetically-modifed-human-embryos-article-1.2195997), [International Business Times](http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/chinese-scientists-edit-genomes-human-embryos-rumours-emerge-secret-experiments-1497950)

**04/20/15** HSCI Affiliated Faculty member Xiaoliang Sunney Xie is awarded the $500,000 Albany Medical Center Prize in Biomedicine and Biomedical Research. Xie shares the prize with Standford University's Karl Deisseroth. *Featured*: [The Seattle Times](http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/stanford-harvard-researchers-to-share-500k-medical-prize/), [The Washington Post](http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/stanford-harvard-researchers-to-share-500k-medical-prize/2015/04/20/de7bcd16-e75d-11e4-8581-633c536add4b_story.html)


### **March 2015**

**03/25/15** AstraZeneca announces a five-year research collaboration with HSCI to study how beta cell function declines in diabetes. *Featured:* [Wall Street Journal](http://blogs.wsj.com/pharmalot/2015/03/25/pharmalot-pharmalittle-good-morning-were-catching-up-on-merck-novartis-and-lots-more/), [Bloomberg Business](http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=47320297), [Reuters](http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/25/idUSFWN0WQ01R20150325), [FierceBiotech](http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/astrazeneca-buys-harvards-stem-cell-tech-diabetes-rd/2015-03-25), [Cambridge News](http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/AstraZeneca-working-Harvard-University-aid/story-26236279-detail/story.html), [GEN](http://www.genengnews.com/gen-news-highlights/astrazeneca-and-harvard-team-up-on-stem-cell-therapies-for-diabetes/81251070/), [PharmaTimes](http://www.pharmatimes.com/Article/15-03-25/AZ_teams_up_with_Harvard_in_diabetes_pact.aspx)

**03/24/15 T**he [Boston Globe](http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/03/23/biotech-startup-semma-therapeutics-will-commercialize-diabetes-therapy-from-harvard-stem-cell-lab/0mNy15btP8OuBOQ1gzjMuJ/story.html) features Semma Therapeutics, a new biotech company commercializing research from HSCI Co-founder and Principal Faculty member Doug Melton's lab. The company has raised $44 million to begin developing insulin-secreting cell transplant therapies for patients with Type 1 diabetes.

**03/19/2015** HSCI Principal Faculty member George Q. Daley comments on the emerging social and ethical implications of gene-editing technology in [The New York Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/20/science/biologists-call-for-halt-to-gene-editing-technique-in-humans.html?_r=0).

**03/13/15** A [Science](http://www.sciencemag.org/content/347/6227/1194.full) news feature about eye transplants mentions HSCI Principal Faculty member Zhigang He's work on optic nerve regeneration.

### **February 2015**

**02/26/15** In [The Scientist](http://bit.ly/1Bm8HbO), the latest work in the lab of HSCI Principal Faculty Jeff Karp (Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School) has important implications for improving the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) used in clinical trials.

### **January 2015**

**01/21/15** A [Nature](http://bit.ly/1Gw90Va) news feature on efforts to apply the findings of parabiotic research on mice to humans features HSCI Principal Faculty member Amy Wagers.