Lauren Robinson
From Cyberlaw
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Another quick update
While taking a quick study break, I saw this story on CNN.com, which sounds more like a script for a horror movie than sounds like breaking news. Now that's never a good sign...
--Lrobinson 17:11, 30 April 2006 (EDT)
Quick update
I just saw a short video piece on a dog undergoing a stem cell transplant to treat cancer. I can't figure out how to get it to link directly here, but it is on CNN.com in the Health subsection.
--Lrobinson 00:14, 28 April 2006 (EDT)
Flu pandemic a la 1918
And in other news, Hawaii is preparing for a potential flu pandemic. The fears are based on the potential for avian flu to mutate into a form more readily spread among people.
--Lrobinson 15:02, 16 April 2006 (EDT)
Clinical trial gone wrong
I just saw this story on a clincial trial in the UK that did not go as planned. One patient may lost his fingers and toes, despite the fact that the dosage of TGN 1412 used in the trial was 500 times lower than that given to animals.
--Lrobinson 14:58, 16 April 2006 (EDT)
News update on ReNu contact solution
Well, here is some news I wasn't really expecting - it turns out the contact solution I use, ReNu with MoistureLoc, has been linked to rare fungal eye infections. As that story reports, they have stopped shipping the solution. Yesterday, I saw an update, in which the company explicitly told people to stop using the solution. I saw this initial story on the infections when it first came out, but I definitely wasn't expecting lens solution to be the culprit (which it still may turn out not to be, directly). Last I heard, they are still not sure what the link is between ReNu with MoistureLoc and these infections, but apparently the link is strong enough to prompt action. Here is the what the CEO of Bausch & Lomb posted on the company site.
And when I Googled "ReNu with MoistureLoc" yesterday to see what the company was saying, I also found some other interesting links. Already, attorneys stand at the ready to help if I develop the infection! I actually am not an anti-plaintiff's lawyer person, but still I think that is a bit much - that was one of the sponsored links when I Googled the lens solution name. There are also other links, like this one, this one, this one, or this one.
To be clear, I do think that people who developed the infections, especially those who required surgery or whose eyes have been permanently damaged, should be able to sue. It is just the fact that these attorneys' links are popping up during a Google search for the name of the solution that I think is a bit over the top.
--Lrobinson 12:08, 15 April 2006 (EDT)
And on a much more relevant note
Just saw this article on CNN.com. It focuses on the arguments the Supreme Court just heard in the case between eBay and MercExchange. MercExchange is a small company that apparently was a patent holder for the technique of "an electronic network of consignment stores that would ensure legitimacy of sales by taking possession of goods being offered," while eBay involves buyers and sellers dealing directly with each other. The article also briefly mentions the push towards a reformation of the patent law that would stop favoring those who do nothing with patents.
Also, this article has less to do with biotech or bioethics but does touch on ethical issues related to those we discussed the first day of class, since it does bring up issues regarding detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Not shockingly, Scalia is not a big fan of giving the detainees jury trials.
And on a semi-related note, the FDA has just approved a patch for treatment of ADHD that contains the same stimulant as Ritalin (story here). My favorite part of the story was the astute observation: "Unlike pill forms of the drug, the patch can be removed if it causes side effects." Thank you for letting us know that non-obvious piece of information. Okay, sorry for the sarcasm but really!
--Lrobinson 15:47, 9 April 2006 (EDT)
Cleanup and Tom Cruise v. Trey Parker and Matt Stone
I just moved the Negotiation Group II agreements to their own page for clarity (maybe clarity isn't the right word...but it started to look weird to me to have them all listed here). Regardless, they are now on their own page if anyone wants to look at them again.
On a note totally unrelated to biotech, I have noticed what I think is a really interesting conflict brewing between South Park and Tom Cruise/Scientology. For those who haven't heard about this yet, this is a pretty good summary of the various goings-on. I actually think I heard about this first on Pink Is The New Blog, which I probably should not even admit, since the fact that I heard about anything on Pink Is the New Blog first is either a sad testament to me or to how interesting some of my classes/meetings have been recently. At least now CNN has lent some credence by picking up the story, and so I can provide a link to a site that does not start with random news about Britney Spears before moving on to the South Park incident.
I actually have not really seen that much South Park, but since I share an alma mater with the South Park guys (Trey Parker and Matt Stone) I have heard a lot about the show over the years, including rampant speculation about whether the chef at one of the dorms is or is not the South Park chef, voiced by Isaac Hayes, who recently left the show over similar issues.
--Lrobinson 10:41, 20 March 2006 (EST)
Quick update
Just saw this article that came out on CNN.com about a week ago on mice in research. Not totally related but I thought it was interesting, especially after discussion of the Harvard onco-mouse.
I actually remember pretty extensive discussion of that mouse during an undergraduate course, Biology of the Cancer Cell. The mouse has undoubtedly been invaluable to cancer research, an area which I am particularly sensitive to after losing both grandmothers to cancer, one long before I was even born. However, I cannot help that I always feel bad for the onco-mouse, whenever I hear about him.
--Lrobinson 17:54, 15 March 2006 (EST)
First Post!
Hello everyone! I have taken a while to get started on the wiki but better late than never, I guess! I was in group II representating Harvard for the negotiation over Dr. Onc's new protein, and so I thought I would post what some members of my group and of the group representing Biotech II decided on:
Negotiation Group II agreements
--Lrobinson 16:49, 3 March 2006 (EST)
