Image generated by magnetic particle imaging, being developed by Steven Conolly of UC BerkeleyWhen you read the words “physics” and “engineering”, I bet the first thing that comes to mind is NOT stem cell research. But it turns out the fields of physics and engineering are making possible the development of magnetic particle imaging, or … Continue reading Powerful new imaging technology is a game-changer for stem cell therapies

Any business or organizational expert will tell you that the key to success in any enterprise is planning. Without a plan that lays out what you want to do and how you want to do it, you are unlikely to achieve your goals. Given the importance of our goal—finding new disease therapies—it’s especially important that … Continue reading Developing stem cell therapies and spurring economic growth: CIRM’s 2012 strategic plan

One of the top suspects behind killer vascular diseases is the victim of mistaken identity, according to researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, who used genetic tracing to help hunt down the real culprit.So begins a press release from UC Berkeley about the true cellular culprit behind vascular disease. Scientists had long thought that … Continue reading Newly discovered blood vessel stem cells point to new therapies for vascular disease

The Guardian ran a story about stem cell research that could be more or less summed up as follows: It’s started.They profiled Marcus Hilton, who was the first person in the UK to receive a transplant of cells created from human embryonic stem cells. In his case, he received the transplant in his eye as … Continue reading The Guardian sees hope in first human stem cell trials

Who ever knew that a horse named Jim would change the face of medicine? True story. Back in 1901 a serious diphtheria epidemic was sweeping through St. Louis. Back then doctors used antitoxins prepared in horses to treat people with diphtheria. Unfortunately unbeknown to the doctors, Jim, one of the horses they used to create … Continue reading The surprising journey from a horse named Jim to stem cell therapies at UC Davis