Here are some stem cell stories that caught our eye this past week. Some are groundbreaking science, others are of personal interest to us, and still others are just fun. How the Zebrafish Got its Stripes. Scientists in Germany have identified the different pigment cells that emerge during embryonic development and that determine the signature-striped … Continue reading Stem Cell Stories that Caught our Eye: A Zebrafish’s Stripes, Stem Cell Sound Waves and the Dangers of Stem Cell Tourism
Month: August 2014
A Tumor’s Trojan Horse: CIRM Researchers Build Nanoparticles to Infiltrate Hard-to-Reach Tumors
Some tumors are hard to find, while others are hard to destroy. Fortunately, a new research study from the University of California, Davis, has developed a new type of nanoparticle that could one day do both. Reporting in the latest issue of Nature Communications, researchers in the laboratory of UC Davis’ Dr. Kit Lam describe … Continue reading A Tumor’s Trojan Horse: CIRM Researchers Build Nanoparticles to Infiltrate Hard-to-Reach Tumors
FDA gives Asterias green light to start CIRM-funded clinical trial in spinal cord injury
This morning Asterias Biotherapeutics announced that they have been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to start a clinical trial using stem cells to treat spinal cord injury. It’s great news, doubly so as we are funding that trial. You can read more about the trial in a news release we just sent … Continue reading FDA gives Asterias green light to start CIRM-funded clinical trial in spinal cord injury
Building a Blueprint for the Human Brain
How does a brain blossom from a small cluster of cells into nature’s most powerful supercomputer? The answer has long puzzled scientists, but with new advances in stem cell biology, researchers are quickly mapping the complex suite of connections that together make up the brain. One of the latest breakthroughs comes from Dr. Daniel Geschwind … Continue reading Building a Blueprint for the Human Brain
Stem cell stories that caught our eye: heart stem cells, lizard tails and mapping progress in the field
Here are some stem cell stories that caught our eye this past week. Some are groundbreaking science, others are of personal interest to us, and still others are just fun. Could cells in arteries be elusive heart stem cells? Our hearts have a modest limited ability to regenerate and repair themselves, suggesting we must have … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: heart stem cells, lizard tails and mapping progress in the field
World’s largest pharmaceutical company signs deal with ViaCyte supporting stem cell therapy for type 1 diabetes
It’s been a good week for ViaCyte, a good week for us here at the stem cell agency and potentially a great week for people with type 1 diabetes.Earlier this week ViaCyte announced they have been given approval to start a clinical trial for their new approach to treating type 1 diabetes. Then today they announced … Continue reading World’s largest pharmaceutical company signs deal with ViaCyte supporting stem cell therapy for type 1 diabetes
Disease in a Dish – That’s a Mouthful: Using Human Stem Cells to Find ALS Treatments
Saying “let’s put some shrimp on the barbie” will whet an Australian’s appetite for barbequed prawns but for an American it conjures up an odd image of placing shrimp on a Barbie doll. This sort of word play confusion doesn’t just happen across continents but also between scientists and the public. Take “disease in a … Continue reading Disease in a Dish – That’s a Mouthful: Using Human Stem Cells to Find ALS Treatments
Tiny transparent zebra fish yields big clue to black box of Alzheimer’s disease
The PR folks at the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology in Belgium produced an unusual press release to describe recent work there published in Developmental Cell. They devoted the first half to the marvels of their animal model the zebra fish. For those who have only seen these nearly transparent little guys in a home aquarium … Continue reading Tiny transparent zebra fish yields big clue to black box of Alzheimer’s disease
First of its kind stem cell production facility sets its sights on deadly childhood disease
We are used to hearing about immune suppression when transplanting organs or cells from one person to another. It’s a necessary step in preventing the body from attacking the transplanted material. Now Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) has just unveiled its newest tool to treat rare childhood diseases. Instead of focusing on immune suppression … Continue reading First of its kind stem cell production facility sets its sights on deadly childhood disease
CIRM funded therapy for type 1 diabetes gets FDA approval for clinical trial
It’s always nice to start the week off with some good news and we got this week off to a great start with some great news. ViaCyte has been given the green light to start a clinical trial with its therapy for type 1 diabetes, a program we are funding.ViaCyte applied to the Food and … Continue reading CIRM funded therapy for type 1 diabetes gets FDA approval for clinical trial
The Stem Cellar 