President Obama proclaimed December 1 World AIDS Day, writing:Today, we reflect on the strides we have taken toward overcoming HIV/AIDS, honor those who have made our progress possible, and keep in our thoughts all those who have known the devastating consequences of this illness.One of those invited to the White House event was CIRM board … Continue reading CIRM board member Jeff Sheehy honored for World AIDS Day

One of the unique things about the stem cell agency is the strong presence of patient advocates on our governing board, the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee (ICOC). Out of 27 members on the ICOC ten are patient advocates (bios of all board members are available here). It’s designed to ensure that we never lose sight … Continue reading Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) and MS get new advocate on stem cell agency board

Alan TrounsonCIRM President Alan Trounson, PhD (well what president did you think we meant?) is in high demand as a speaker and presenter for his thoughts on regenerative medicine in general, and the work of CIRM in particular. He recently had a cross-Atlantic email conversation with Alex Lovering, the associate editor of London-based International Innovation, … Continue reading President gives exclusive interview on stem cell research

Paul KnoepflerMove over Drs. Gurdon and Yamanaka*, there’s a new kid in town. Or at least there will be if our old friend, UC Davis stem cell research Paul Knoepfler, PhD, has anything to do with it.Paul is not just a respected researcher and an associate professor of cell biology and human anatomy, he’s also … Continue reading Blogger scientist holds Stem Cell Person of the Year contest

heart muscle cells matured from embryonic stem cells, courtesy of Sanford-Burnham Medical Research InstituteHere’s the dilemma a group of CIRM grantees near San Diego, CA set out to resolve: hearts contain stem cells, but those cells don’t always repair damage to the heart after a heart attack. "They need to be stimulated," John Cashman told … Continue reading Heart, heal thyself: CIRM grantees find chemical that may stimulate heart stem cells to repair damage after an attack

Katie Sharify talks about participating in Geron's spinal cord injury trialThis week I was lucky enough to interview Katie Sharify in front of a group of scientists who were meeting to discuss the best ways of advancing stem cell clinical trials. Katie was the fifth and final patient to participate in Geron’s CIRM-supported clinical trial … Continue reading Fifth Geron stem cell trial participant discusses her experience

Each month CIRM President Alan Trounson gives his perspective on recently published papers he thinks will be valuable in moving the field of stem cell research forward. This month’s report, along with an archive of past reports, is available on the CIRM website.Although this months full report showcases a couple interesting papers refining our understanding … Continue reading Guest blogger Alan Trounson — October’s stem cell research highlights

Embryonic stem cells matured into choroid plexus epithelial cellsWe and others often write that embryonic stem cells can form all the cell types of the body. Well, what we really mean is that they can form the three basic cell layers, and that those layers generate all the cell types of the body. Scientists haven't … Continue reading Alzheimer’s disease could be helped by a type of brain cell recently generated from embryonic stem cells

In the movie ‘Field of Dreams’ the lead character, played by Kevin Costner, is told to turn his cornfield into a baseball field in the belief that “if you build it, he will come.” Well, under a similar if less mystical guidance we helped the University of California Santa Barbara turn 10,000 square feet of … Continue reading UC Santa Barbara opens 12th and final CIRM-funded regenerative medicine building in the state

Several conflicting stories have been circulating this week regarding the use of stem cells to treat heart damage after a heart attack. They all came out of the American Heart Association meeting that’s taking place this week in Los Angeles.One study found that stem cells taken from a heart attack patient’s own bone marrow did … Continue reading Stem cells treat heart damage – sometimes