Songbird research? How the heck could studying tweeting birds lead to advancements in human health? At a first glance, biological research in other organisms like bacteria, yeast, flies, mice and birds can seem frivolous and a waste of taxpayer money. Yet it’s astonishing how we humans share very similar if not identical functions at a … Continue reading The sparrow’s dying song: a possible path toward natural, stem cell-based repair of human brain diseases
Month: September 2014
Stem cell stories that caught our eye: heart disease, premature infants and incontinence
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. Decoding heart health and genetics in Asians. A study from CIRM grantee Joseph Wu at Stanford may point the way to using stem cells to … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: heart disease, premature infants and incontinence
Museum exhibit explaining stem cell super heroes opens in Canada today, due in California in 2016
An international touring exhibit using super hero cells as guides to explain the many roles of stem cells in our lives opens today at the Sherbrooke Museum of Nature and Science in Canada. Its five-year tour will include further displays in Canada, the United Kingdom and three stops on California—the San Francisco Bay area, Los … Continue reading Museum exhibit explaining stem cell super heroes opens in Canada today, due in California in 2016
Cells’ Knack for Hoarding Proteins Inadvertently Kickstarts the Aging Process
Even cells need to take out the trash in order to maintain a healthy clean environment. And scientists are now uncovering the harmful effects when cells instead begin to hoard their garbage. Aging, on the cellular level is—at its core—the increasing inability for cells to repair themselves over time. As cells begin to break down … Continue reading Cells’ Knack for Hoarding Proteins Inadvertently Kickstarts the Aging Process
New Cellular Tracking Device Tests Ability of Cell-Based Therapies to Reach Intended Destination
Therapies aimed at replacing damaged cells with a fresh, healthy batch hold immense promise—but there remains one major sticking point: once you have injected new, healthy cells into the patient, how do you track them and how do you ensure they do the job for which they were designed? Unfortunately, there’s no easy solution. The … Continue reading New Cellular Tracking Device Tests Ability of Cell-Based Therapies to Reach Intended Destination
New Videos: Living with Crohn’s Disease and Working Towards a Stem Cell Therapy
Note: the two videos below are also available on our website She doesn’t want your sympathy. She doesn’t want your admiration. She just wants your understanding. Rachel Bonner, a sixteen-year-old high school student and founder of the Hope for Crohn’s charity, spoke to the CIRM governing Board on September 10th about what it’s like living … Continue reading New Videos: Living with Crohn’s Disease and Working Towards a Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell stories that caught our eye: a good review at the NY Times, expanding cord blood and leukemia
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. Review paints picture of the field today. A writer I have respected for many years, Karen Weintraub, wrote a nice review of the current state … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: a good review at the NY Times, expanding cord blood and leukemia
New formula a more efficient way to reprogram adult cells to become like embryonic stem cells
Shinya Yamanaka won the Nobel Prize for developing a recipe of genetic factors that can turn back the clock of adult cells and make them behave like embryonic stem cells. But he would be the first to tell you his recipe ultimately may not be the best one for making these stem cells called iPS … Continue reading New formula a more efficient way to reprogram adult cells to become like embryonic stem cells
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger: Scientists Work to Create Improved Immune System One Cell at a Time
The human immune system is the body’s best defense against invaders. But even our hardy immune systems can sometimes be outpaced by particularly dangerous bacteria, viruses or other pathogens, or even by cancer. But what if we could give our immune system a boost when it needs it most? Last week scientists at the Salk … Continue reading Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger: Scientists Work to Create Improved Immune System One Cell at a Time
Stories of Hope: Stroke
Six months after surviving a stroke, Sonia Olea wanted to die. Her right leg was weak, her right arm useless. She had trouble speaking and even small tasks were challenging. Just making a phone call was virtually impossible. One morning, she woke up with her arm pinned in an awkward, painful position. After finally repositioning … Continue reading Stories of Hope: Stroke
The Stem Cellar 