Knoepfler Lab

Did Altos Labs just reprogram itself to focus on AI? Peter Walter, Steve Horvath, & more departures, layoffs https://ipscell.com/2026/05/did-altos-labs-just-reprogram-itself-to-focus-on-ai-peter-walter-steve-horvath-more-departures/ Is this part of a broader trend in the life sciences towards more dependence on AI?

Did Altos Labs just reprogram itself to focus on AI? Peter Walter, Steve Horvath, & more departures - The Niche Stem cell biologist discusses some key departures from Altos Labs including Steve Horvath and Peter Walter.

Weekly reads: odd FDA PRP warning, H3.3 & CTCF in pediatric glioma, Iowa AG gets $2.5M on stem cell clinic, Colossal Biosciences PR https://ipscell.com/2026/05/weekly-reads-odd-fda-prp-warning-h3-3-ctcf-iowa-ag-gets-2-5m-on-stem-cell-clinic-colossal-bio-has-too-many-chickens

Weekly reads: odd FDA PRP warning, H3.3 & CTCF, Iowa AG gets $2.5M on stem cell clinic, Colossal Biosciences - The Niche FDA warning on PRP

Perspectives on FDA's Megha Kaushal talk at ASGCT 2026: PFDD, patient voices, decision-making https://ipscell.com/2026/05/fdas-megha-kaushal-talk-pfdd-patient-voices-decision-making How will PFDD evolve in a chaotic, politic FDA?

FDA's Megha Kaushal talk: PFDD, patient voices, decision-making - The Niche Professor's perspectives on ASCGT talk by FDA on Integrating Patient Voices into Regulatory Decision-Making on CGT and PFDD.

Weekly stem cell & reads: perspectives as FDA leadership purge goes beyond Marty Makary, rare gene therapy tumor, vaccines & dementia

Weekly reads: FDA leadership purge goes beyond Marty Makary, rare gene therapy tumor, vaccines & dementia - The Niche Marty Makary is officially out at the FDA. From STAT: Makary departs FDA amid turmoil as Diamantas, agency’s top food official, steps in. But there’s more going on here in what looks like an agency leadership purge. This is so crazy that it’s hard to imagine a coherent path forward. Next level...

Perspectives on Cathy Tie v. Glenn Cohen heritable human gene editing debate https://ipscell.com/2026/05/perspectives-on-cathy-tie-v-glenn-cohen-heritable-human-gene-editing-debate/ I don't believe Tie made a strong case but many others are likely to agree with her. What to consider here.

Perspectives on Cathy Tie v. Glenn Cohen heritable human gene editing debate - The Niche Biologist and geneticist provides perspectives on Cathy Tie v. Glenn Cohen heritable human gene editing debate.

Weekly reads: Great news x2 as approved gene therapy for rare form of deafness will be free from Regeneron, OSK in the heart, real-time clinical trials https://ipscell.com/2026/05/weekly-reads-gene-therapy-for-rare-form-of-deafness-free-from-regeneron-osk-in-the-heart-real-time-clinical-trials/

Weekly reads: Gene therapy for rare form of deafness free from Regeneron, OSK in the heart, real-time clinical trials - The Niche Stem cell biologist discusses recent news and research including the exciting development of a gene therapy for rare form of deafness.

Weekly reads: $1B+ Neurona acquisition, cells + organs = better transplant?, DAXX in germ cells, KRAS https://ipscell.com/2026/04/weekly-reads-1b-neurona-acquisition-daxx-in-germ-cells-kras/

Weekly reads: $1B+ Neurona acquisition, cells + organs = better transplant?, DAXX in germ cells, KRAS - The Niche The last 3 weeks have been extremely busy with grant work, but one recent bit of news that caught my eye was UCB’s $1 billion+ acquisition of Neurona. Neurona has been on my radar screen for years. Neurona and stem cells for epilepsy Here’s the news: UCB pays $650M+ for Neurona, marking ‘strat...

Weekly regenerative reads: anticipating Prasad successor at FDA, Sammy Hagar stem cells, more on pioneering but super risky OSK trial, Finnish speaker needed https://ipscell.com/2026/04/weekly-reads-prasad-successor-sammy-hagar-stem-cells-more-on-osk-trial-finnish-speaker-needed/

Weekly reads: Prasad successor, Sammy Hagar stem cells, more on OSK trial, Finnish speaker needed - The Niche Stem cell biologist discusses the week's research and news in regenerative medicine including who could follow Prasad at CBER.

Weekly reads: federal stem cell charges disappear, SCBEM ethics, diet & MYCN cancer, how to make a nose (or what happens when you don't have one) https://ipscell.com/2026/04/weekly-reads-federal-stem-cell-charges-disappear-scbem-ethics-diet-mycn-cancer

Weekly reads: federal stem cell charges disappear, SCBEM ethics, diet & MYCN cancer, how to make a nose - The Niche Over the years people have asked me why those selling unproven stem cells and more recently peptides haven’t faced more pushback. Cases do arise, but they often go nowhere. Civil cases like patient lawsuits against stem cell clinics are often settled. These are generally subject to confidentiality...

Landmark federal indictment for pop peptides alleged 'scheme' at Utah clinic even as RFK Jr. may un-ban some

Landmark federal indictment for pop peptides alleged 'scheme' even as RFK Jr. may soon un-ban some - The Niche Stem cell biologist discusses an indictment related to pop peptides related to allegations against a Utah stem cell clinic.