I’m here to tell you that stem cells are probably coming to a clinic near you but
probably coming to a clinic near you but
probably coming to a clinic near you but that’s not necessarily a good thing you
that’s not necessarily a good thing you
that’s not necessarily a good thing you see whenever people find out I’m a
see whenever people find out I’m a
see whenever people find out I’m a scientist do you usually ask me how’s
scientist do you usually ask me how’s
scientist do you usually ask me how’s this whole stem cell thing going and
this whole stem cell thing going and
this whole stem cell thing going and I’ll be honest with you I for the
I’ll be honest with you I for the
I’ll be honest with you I for the longest time I had no idea how to answer
longest time I had no idea how to answer
longest time I had no idea how to answer that question you see I’m from Brazil as
that question you see I’m from Brazil as
that question you see I’m from Brazil as you can tell and and we and you and your
you can tell and and we and you and your
you can tell and and we and you and your birds in Brazil when you tell people
birds in Brazil when you tell people
birds in Brazil when you tell people you’re scientists there’s there’s no
you’re scientists there’s there’s no
you’re scientists there’s there’s no follow-up question there’s only this
follow-up question there’s only this
follow-up question there’s only this look on people’s faces you know it’s a
look on people’s faces you know it’s a
look on people’s faces you know it’s a mixture of sorrow concerned a little bit
mixture of sorrow concerned a little bit
mixture of sorrow concerned a little bit of disappointment you know it is really
of disappointment you know it is really
of disappointment you know it is really the look of a father whose daughter just
the look of a father whose daughter just
the look of a father whose daughter just brought a boyfriend home and it’s going
brought a boyfriend home and it’s going
brought a boyfriend home and it’s going of all the choices out there I mean
of all the choices out there I mean
of all the choices out there I mean that’s what you decided to go with and
that’s what you decided to go with and
that’s what you decided to go with and and yes and so I stuck with science and
and yes and so I stuck with science and
and yes and so I stuck with science and I was really fortunate to have the
I was really fortunate to have the
I was really fortunate to have the opportunity to come to this great
opportunity to come to this great
opportunity to come to this great country and for the past 10 years I have
country and for the past 10 years I have
country and for the past 10 years I have immersed myself in stem-cell research
immersed myself in stem-cell research
immersed myself in stem-cell research now that the but in here people are
now that the but in here people are
now that the but in here people are really interested in science right but
really interested in science right but
really interested in science right but like everything else nowadays the only
like everything else nowadays the only
like everything else nowadays the only time people are really interested in
time people are really interested in
time people are really interested in science is in social media discussions
science is in social media discussions
science is in social media discussions isn’t it in social media discussions
isn’t it in social media discussions
isn’t it in social media discussions science seems to be such a winning
science seems to be such a winning
science seems to be such a winning argument I mean if you drop a scientific
argument I mean if you drop a scientific
argument I mean if you drop a scientific fact then you basically win the
fact then you basically win the
fact then you basically win the discussion right which is basically why
discussion right which is basically why
discussion right which is basically why we have discussions anyways I guess but
we have discussions anyways I guess but
we have discussions anyways I guess but as a scientist that has always baffled
as a scientist that has always baffled
as a scientist that has always baffled me okay because if there’s one thing I
me okay because if there’s one thing I
me okay because if there’s one thing I learned in science is that David premium
learned in science is that David premium
learned in science is that David premium was right when he said the more we know
was right when he said the more we know
was right when he said the more we know the less we know and the less we know
the less we know and the less we know
the less we know and the less we know the more we think we know so quite
the more we think we know so quite
the more we think we know so quite honestly what people want to know is
honestly what people want to know is
honestly what people want to know is when can I go to the doctor get some of
when can I go to the doctor get some of
when can I go to the doctor get some of it simply and it’s fair and I think
it simply and it’s fair and I think
it simply and it’s fair and I think there’s only one way to describe the
there’s only one way to describe the
there’s only one way to describe the current situation we find ourselves in
current situation we find ourselves in
current situation we find ourselves in as it relates to stem cells and that is
as it relates to stem cells and that is
as it relates to stem cells and that is to say we have reached a critical point
to say we have reached a critical point
to say we have reached a critical point in the history of stem cells
in the history of stem cells
in the history of stem cells a point that can only be described as
a point that can only be described as
a point that can only be described as this what you see is a massive number of
this what you see is a massive number of
this what you see is a massive number of different stem-cell treatments out there
different stem-cell treatments out there
different stem-cell treatments out there and really the only thing between them
and really the only thing between them
and really the only thing between them and us our regulatory agencies such as
and us our regulatory agencies such as
and us our regulatory agencies such as the FDA in the US but the number of stem
the FDA in the US but the number of stem
the FDA in the US but the number of stem cell treatments out there are getting so
cell treatments out there are getting so
cell treatments out there are getting so overwhelming the some are just falling
overwhelming the some are just falling
overwhelming the some are just falling through the cracks and the question then
through the cracks and the question then
through the cracks and the question then is how did we get here and what does
is how did we get here and what does
is how did we get here and what does that mean to you so the first thing we
that mean to you so the first thing we
that mean to you so the first thing we have to understand is that stem cells
have to understand is that stem cells
have to understand is that stem cells really exists within a relatively large
really exists within a relatively large
really exists within a relatively large spectrum okay it starts with your
spectrum okay it starts with your
spectrum okay it starts with your embryonic stem cells goes through your
embryonic stem cells goes through your
embryonic stem cells goes through your postnatal adult stem cells all the way
postnatal adult stem cells all the way
postnatal adult stem cells all the way to adult cells that we can now it
to adult cells that we can now it
to adult cells that we can now it genetically reprogrammed to become
genetically reprogrammed to become
genetically reprogrammed to become embryonic like stem cells we call those
embryonic like stem cells we call those
embryonic like stem cells we call those induced pluripotent stem cells or iPS
induced pluripotent stem cells or iPS
induced pluripotent stem cells or iPS cells now we knew from the beginning
cells now we knew from the beginning
cells now we knew from the beginning that embryonic stem cells offer perhaps
that embryonic stem cells offer perhaps
that embryonic stem cells offer perhaps the greatest differentiation potential
the greatest differentiation potential
the greatest differentiation potential which is by the way what defines a stem
which is by the way what defines a stem
which is by the way what defines a stem cell is a cell that can replicate and
cell is a cell that can replicate and
cell is a cell that can replicate and giving the right cue it can
giving the right cue it can
giving the right cue it can differentiate you to something else
differentiate you to something else
differentiate you to something else hopefully something useful but we’ve
hopefully something useful but we’ve
hopefully something useful but we’ve always known that great differentiation
always known that great differentiation
always known that great differentiation potential also means the greatest risk
potential also means the greatest risk
potential also means the greatest risk and it’s a very simple concept to grasp
and it’s a very simple concept to grasp
and it’s a very simple concept to grasp right we tell our kids I tell my kids
right we tell our kids I tell my kids
right we tell our kids I tell my kids they can be anything they want when they
they can be anything they want when they
they can be anything they want when they grow up
grow up
grow up all right don’t you accept the chances
all right don’t you accept the chances
all right don’t you accept the chances of my son become a professional
of my son become a professional
of my son become a professional basketball player probably really slim
basketball player probably really slim
basketball player probably really slim right but I don’t tell them them but we
right but I don’t tell them them but we
right but I don’t tell them them but we also know that there are very specific
also know that there are very specific
also know that there are very specific conditions environmental factors the
conditions environmental factors the
conditions environmental factors the half should be present just for a kid to
half should be present just for a kid to
half should be present just for a kid to become a functional contributing member
become a functional contributing member
become a functional contributing member of our society and more often that we
of our society and more often that we
of our society and more often that we like to admit those conditions are not
like to admit those conditions are not
like to admit those conditions are not met they’re not in place and a lot of
met they’re not in place and a lot of
met they’re not in place and a lot of the kids end up going straight
the kids end up going straight
the kids end up going straight unfortunately when it comes to embryonic
unfortunately when it comes to embryonic
unfortunately when it comes to embryonic stem cells in IPS cells going astray
stem cells in IPS cells going astray
stem cells in IPS cells going astray really means turning into cancer and
really means turning into cancer and
really means turning into cancer and that’s the last thing we wanted now as I
that’s the last thing we wanted now as I
that’s the last thing we wanted now as I speak and I say in an upset a lot of
speak and I say in an upset a lot of
speak and I say in an upset a lot of scientists by oversimplifying something
scientists by oversimplifying something
scientists by oversimplifying something very complex there are many scientists
very complex there are many scientists
very complex there are many scientists working precisely on deciphering those
working precisely on deciphering those
working precisely on deciphering those conditions and in the future it’s quite
conditions and in the future it’s quite
conditions and in the future it’s quite possible that the choice between using
possible that the choice between using
possible that the choice between using neck stem cell in IPS cell we would come
neck stem cell in IPS cell we would come
neck stem cell in IPS cell we would come down to a moral choice but with that
down to a moral choice but with that
down to a moral choice but with that link said I have to tell you that both
link said I have to tell you that both
link said I have to tell you that both embryonic stem cells and iPS cells
embryonic stem cells and iPS cells
embryonic stem cells and iPS cells represent a very small fraction of all
represent a very small fraction of all
represent a very small fraction of all the stem cells out there what makes the
the stem cells out there what makes the
the stem cells out there what makes the bulk of them are really adult stem cells
bulk of them are really adult stem cells
bulk of them are really adult stem cells in going in we knew that adult stem
in going in we knew that adult stem
in going in we knew that adult stem cells have limited differentiation
cells have limited differentiation
cells have limited differentiation capacity after all they already decided
capacity after all they already decided
capacity after all they already decided to be something or on the road to become
to be something or on the road to become
to be something or on the road to become something but then ten years ago
something but then ten years ago
something but then ten years ago something happened that can only be
something happened that can only be
something happened that can only be described as a paradigm shift these
described as a paradigm shift these
described as a paradigm shift these cells are better a subset of these cells
cells are better a subset of these cells
cells are better a subset of these cells we call the mesenchymal stem cells or
we call the mesenchymal stem cells or
we call the mesenchymal stem cells or MSC’s for short we’re able to treat and
MSC’s for short we’re able to treat and
MSC’s for short we’re able to treat and improve a lot of experimental models of
improve a lot of experimental models of
improve a lot of experimental models of disease from heart attack type 1
disease from heart attack type 1
disease from heart attack type 1 diabetes neurological diseases without
diabetes neurological diseases without
diabetes neurological diseases without ever needing to differentiate into
ever needing to differentiate into
ever needing to differentiate into anything and after 10 years of research
anything and after 10 years of research
anything and after 10 years of research I can tell you that the way they
I can tell you that the way they
I can tell you that the way they accomplish such features is by simply
accomplish such features is by simply
accomplish such features is by simply going at it it’s by simply doing
going at it it’s by simply doing
going at it it’s by simply doing everything itself can possibly do in
everything itself can possibly do in
everything itself can possibly do in fact that’s why we still call them adult
fact that’s why we still call them adult
fact that’s why we still call them adult stem cells because you do find them at
stem cells because you do find them at
stem cells because you do find them at various ages but can you imagine if they
various ages but can you imagine if they
various ages but can you imagine if they were teenager stem cells I mean first of
were teenager stem cells I mean first of
were teenager stem cells I mean first of all they wouldn’t like to go there
all they wouldn’t like to go there
all they wouldn’t like to go there because it would be boring right and
because it would be boring right and
because it would be boring right and they were gay and they would get there
they were gay and they would get there
they were gay and they would get there and they wouldn’t do anything it just
and they wouldn’t do anything it just
and they wouldn’t do anything it just being titled that the whole disease
being titled that the whole disease
being titled that the whole disease would just treat itself because they
would just treat itself because they
would just treat itself because they were there I mean nothing will get it
were there I mean nothing will get it
were there I mean nothing will get it right but as responsible adults
right but as responsible adults
right but as responsible adults themselves they go to work and they
themselves they go to work and they
themselves they go to work and they employ a plethora of different molecular
employ a plethora of different molecular
employ a plethora of different molecular mechanisms things like genetic transfer
mechanisms things like genetic transfer
mechanisms things like genetic transfer transfer of mitochondria secretion of
transfer of mitochondria secretion of
transfer of mitochondria secretion of anti inflammatory proteins secretion of
anti inflammatory proteins secretion of
anti inflammatory proteins secretion of growth factors that combine we modulate
growth factors that combine we modulate
growth factors that combine we modulate key systems in our body
key systems in our body
key systems in our body so I’m talking about your vascular
so I’m talking about your vascular
so I’m talking about your vascular system your immune system and even other
system your immune system and even other
system your immune system and even other stem cells are have in your body and
stem cells are have in your body and
stem cells are have in your body and they modulate them towards healing as
they modulate them towards healing as
they modulate them towards healing as simple as that
simple as that
simple as that and I challenge you to think about any
and I challenge you to think about any
and I challenge you to think about any disease or condition and I can guarantee
disease or condition and I can guarantee
disease or condition and I can guarantee you you would benefit from either one if
you you would benefit from either one if
you you would benefit from either one if not all of these interactions and that’s
not all of these interactions and that’s
not all of these interactions and that’s what’s causing the stem cell revolution
what’s causing the stem cell revolution
what’s causing the stem cell revolution we see today but that’s not all
we see today but that’s not all
we see today but that’s not all something else happened it turns out we
something else happened it turns out we
something else happened it turns out we discovered we can find these cells
discovered we can find these cells
discovered we can find these cells virtually in every organ in your body
virtually in every organ in your body
virtually in every organ in your body including your adipose tissue your fat
including your adipose tissue your fat
including your adipose tissue your fat tissue so what I’m telling you is that
tissue so what I’m telling you is that
tissue so what I’m telling you is that you could have a stem-cell treatment at
you could have a stem-cell treatment at
you could have a stem-cell treatment at the same time you have liposculpture the
the same time you have liposculpture the
the same time you have liposculpture the future in a country like the US where
future in a country like the US where
future in a country like the US where the number of lipo sculptures or lipo
the number of lipo sculptures or lipo
the number of lipo sculptures or lipo aspirated procedures reaches almost
aspirated procedures reaches almost
aspirated procedures reaches almost 300,000 cases a year you combine it with
300,000 cases a year you combine it with
300,000 cases a year you combine it with a relatively simple method to isolate
a relatively simple method to isolate
a relatively simple method to isolate those stem cells then you create a
those stem cells then you create a
those stem cells then you create a perfect environment for the resurgence
perfect environment for the resurgence
perfect environment for the resurgence of dr. Stanley and I’m not saying dr.
of dr. Stanley and I’m not saying dr.
of dr. Stanley and I’m not saying dr. Stanley had in bad intentions on this
Stanley had in bad intentions on this
Stanley had in bad intentions on this heart in fact I think we should have
heart in fact I think we should have
heart in fact I think we should have fallen this whole snake oil thing but
fallen this whole snake oil thing but
fallen this whole snake oil thing but the fact is that in the u.s.
the fact is that in the u.s.
the fact is that in the u.s. particularly the FDA has not yet
particularly the FDA has not yet
particularly the FDA has not yet approved a single stem cell treatment
approved a single stem cell treatment
approved a single stem cell treatment apart from stem cell for bone
apart from stem cell for bone
apart from stem cell for bone restoration in some cancer cases all the
restoration in some cancer cases all the
restoration in some cancer cases all the other stem cell treatments are not yet
other stem cell treatments are not yet
other stem cell treatments are not yet approved by the FDA and their taste is
approved by the FDA and their taste is
approved by the FDA and their taste is really strict actually it’s the
really strict actually it’s the
really strict actually it’s the strictest regulatory agency in the world
strictest regulatory agency in the world
strictest regulatory agency in the world but I do tend to lean towards safety as
but I do tend to lean towards safety as
but I do tend to lean towards safety as well because that’s what we live really
well because that’s what we live really
well because that’s what we live really talking about and there are hundreds of
talking about and there are hundreds of
talking about and there are hundreds of clinical trials which are really dead
clinical trials which are really dead
clinical trials which are really dead their trials studies assessing safety
their trials studies assessing safety
their trials studies assessing safety and advocacy in a very limited number of
and advocacy in a very limited number of
and advocacy in a very limited number of patients and I think it’s it’s quite
patients and I think it’s it’s quite
patients and I think it’s it’s quite simple to understand why someone would
simple to understand why someone would
simple to understand why someone would be concerned about those cells cells are
be concerned about those cells cells are
be concerned about those cells cells are not drugs
not drugs
not drugs I could manufacture drug here send out
I could manufacture drug here send out
I could manufacture drug here send out to Brazil and they would manufacture the
to Brazil and they would manufacture the
to Brazil and they would manufacture the exact same drug but I cannot guarantee
exact same drug but I cannot guarantee
exact same drug but I cannot guarantee that my stem cell in your stem cells
that my stem cell in your stem cells
that my stem cell in your stem cells will act and behave the same everything
will act and behave the same everything
will act and behave the same everything else should be a little bit different
else should be a little bit different
else should be a little bit different and what’s worse if I can get your stem
and what’s worse if I can get your stem
and what’s worse if I can get your stem cells I start growing them and I give
cells I start growing them and I give
cells I start growing them and I give something to my colleague down the hall
something to my colleague down the hall
something to my colleague down the hall a few weeks later and when we come back
a few weeks later and when we come back
a few weeks later and when we come back and compare them they they might be
and compare them they they might be
and compare them they they might be different and the last thing is
different and the last thing is
different and the last thing is we know they do a lot of things but we
we know they do a lot of things but we
we know they do a lot of things but we don’t know quite how to control them
don’t know quite how to control them
don’t know quite how to control them okay and what’s really rare
okay and what’s really rare
okay and what’s really rare dr. stainless are popping up everywhere
dr. stainless are popping up everywhere
dr. stainless are popping up everywhere in the country and with them come the
in the country and with them come the
in the country and with them come the horror stories and I’ll share two of
horror stories and I’ll share two of
horror stories and I’ll share two of them with you today first one is a
them with you today first one is a
them with you today first one is a middle-aged woman woman who saw an
middle-aged woman woman who saw an
middle-aged woman woman who saw an advertisement for facelift in stem cells
advertisement for facelift in stem cells
advertisement for facelift in stem cells facelift in stem cells now I know a few
facelift in stem cells now I know a few
facelift in stem cells now I know a few scientists who work with stem cells none
scientists who work with stem cells none
scientists who work with stem cells none of which work with facelift but this
of which work with facelift but this
of which work with facelift but this physician in particular decided was a
physician in particular decided was a
physician in particular decided was a good idea to inject stem cells in this
good idea to inject stem cells in this
good idea to inject stem cells in this patients face around her eyes and a few
patients face around her eyes and a few
patients face around her eyes and a few weeks later she woke up and every time
weeks later she woke up and every time
weeks later she woke up and every time she blinked she heard a click and you
she blinked she heard a click and you
she blinked she heard a click and you could think that’s cool for a second to
could think that’s cool for a second to
could think that’s cool for a second to start freaking out and it turns out that
start freaking out and it turns out that
start freaking out and it turns out that stem cells in her face decided to turn
stem cells in her face decided to turn
stem cells in her face decided to turn into bone so she needed to have them
into bone so she needed to have them
into bone so she needed to have them surgically removed and granted this
surgically removed and granted this
surgically removed and granted this happened 10 I’m more than 10 years ago
happened 10 I’m more than 10 years ago
happened 10 I’m more than 10 years ago the second story is really recent it
the second story is really recent it
the second story is really recent it happened this year there were three
happened this year there were three
happened this year there were three older patients who suffer from
older patients who suffer from
older patients who suffer from degenerative disease of the eye macular
degenerative disease of the eye macular
degenerative disease of the eye macular degeneration and they also saw the
degeneration and they also saw the
degeneration and they also saw the advertisement for stem cells and the
advertisement for stem cells and the
advertisement for stem cells and the physician in that case decided well
physician in that case decided well
physician in that case decided well let’s go step further and inject these
let’s go step further and inject these
let’s go step further and inject these cells inside our eyes directly into
cells inside our eyes directly into
cells inside our eyes directly into their eyes and few weeks later or in
their eyes and few weeks later or in
their eyes and few weeks later or in life and what’s worse about this case is
life and what’s worse about this case is
life and what’s worse about this case is that the physician he had the trouble to
that the physician he had the trouble to
that the physician he had the trouble to go to the FDA and start a clinical trial
go to the FDA and start a clinical trial
go to the FDA and start a clinical trial so he could falsely advertise that his
so he could falsely advertise that his
so he could falsely advertise that his procedures were somehow legit and so we
procedures were somehow legit and so we
procedures were somehow legit and so we have really come to a point in history
have really come to a point in history
have really come to a point in history in which the most reliable source of
in which the most reliable source of
in which the most reliable source of information when it comes to stem cells
information when it comes to stem cells
information when it comes to stem cells are really scientists and that’s very
are really scientists and that’s very
are really scientists and that’s very scary Otto ADA there was a survey done
scary Otto ADA there was a survey done
scary Otto ADA there was a survey done in Florida and they in which they asked
in Florida and they in which they asked
in Florida and they in which they asked people how do you first hear about
people how do you first hear about
people how do you first hear about scientific discoveries and out of 13
scientific discoveries and out of 13
scientific discoveries and out of 13 different possibilities scientists
different possibilities scientists
different possibilities scientists ranked number 9 which means more people
ranked number 9 which means more people
ranked number 9 which means more people learn about science scientific
learn about science scientific
learn about science scientific discoveries by the way done by
discoveries by the way done by
discoveries by the way done by scientists through comic books sitcoms
scientists through comic books sitcoms
scientists through comic books sitcoms and
and
and that’s how people hear about the
that’s how people hear about the
that’s how people hear about the scientific discoveries and I think
scientific discoveries and I think
scientific discoveries and I think that’s largely fog of scientists
that’s largely fog of scientists
that’s largely fog of scientists ourselves we are largely faultless
ourselves we are largely faultless
ourselves we are largely faultless you know being from Brazil I think the
you know being from Brazil I think the
you know being from Brazil I think the biggest difference between Americas in
biggest difference between Americas in
biggest difference between Americas in Brazilians are Americans tend to think
Brazilians are Americans tend to think
Brazilians are Americans tend to think they tend to take themselves a little
they tend to take themselves a little
they tend to take themselves a little bit too seriously and I think it’s
bit too seriously and I think it’s
bit too seriously and I think it’s because you guys don’t have enough
because you guys don’t have enough
because you guys don’t have enough problems you don’t right in Brazil
problems you don’t right in Brazil
problems you don’t right in Brazil there’s so many issues so many problems
there’s so many issues so many problems
there’s so many issues so many problems because we and we we can’t afford to
because we and we we can’t afford to
because we and we we can’t afford to make ourselves another one we wouldn’t
make ourselves another one we wouldn’t
make ourselves another one we wouldn’t get out of bed but here people tend to
get out of bed but here people tend to
get out of bed but here people tend to think ourselves a little just I’m not
think ourselves a little just I’m not
think ourselves a little just I’m not saying we shouldn’t take what you do
saying we shouldn’t take what you do
saying we shouldn’t take what you do seriously because I think we do and we
seriously because I think we do and we
seriously because I think we do and we must well we shouldn’t take ourselves
must well we shouldn’t take ourselves
must well we shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously and scientists fall from
too seriously and scientists fall from
too seriously and scientists fall from the same disgrace and what we really
the same disgrace and what we really
the same disgrace and what we really need I think is science and as
need I think is science and as
need I think is science and as scientists we need to get out of our
scientists we need to get out of our
scientists we need to get out of our heads a little bit and reach out and
heads a little bit and reach out and
heads a little bit and reach out and inform people about stem cells because
inform people about stem cells because
inform people about stem cells because quite frankly a simple message could
quite frankly a simple message could
quite frankly a simple message could have prevented those disasters and a
have prevented those disasters and a
have prevented those disasters and a simple message will most likely prevent
simple message will most likely prevent
simple message will most likely prevent future ones because stem cells are
future ones because stem cells are
future ones because stem cells are coming we just have to make sure the
coming we just have to make sure the
coming we just have to make sure the good ones make it thank
”
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