When you suffer a heart attack, your heart-muscle cells become deprived of oxygen. Without oxygen, the cells soon whither and die—and are entombed within scar tissue. And once these cells die, they can’t be brought back to life. But maybe—just maybe—there is another way to build new heart muscle. And if there is, scientists like … Continue reading UCLA Study Suggests New Way to Mend a Broken Heart
Month: October 2014
The Nose Knows: Stem Cells are Vital Players in Brain Circuits Responsible for Smell
Ah, the mouth-watering scent of freshly baked bread and the intense aroma of roasted coffee beans. You can thank nerve cells in the front of your brain — in direct contact with your nasal passages — that convert odor molecules in the air into brain signals and generate your perception of those wonderful smells. Loss … Continue reading The Nose Knows: Stem Cells are Vital Players in Brain Circuits Responsible for Smell
Cranking it Up to Eleven: Heightened Growth of Neural Stem Cells Linked to Autism-like Behavior
Autism is not one single disease but a suite of many, which is why researchers have long struggled to understand its underlying causes. Often referred to as the Autism Spectrum Disorders, autism has been linked to multiple genetic and environmental factors—different combinations of which can all result in autism or autistic-like behavior. But as we … Continue reading Cranking it Up to Eleven: Heightened Growth of Neural Stem Cells Linked to Autism-like Behavior
Stem cell stories that caught our eye: fast track marketing in Japan, a 3D cell tour and autism
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. Event showed great progress, but Japan nipping at our heals. The San Diego Union Tribune’s Brad Fikes seemed to be enjoying covering the Stem Cell … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: fast track marketing in Japan, a 3D cell tour and autism
Scientists Reach Yet Another Milestone towards Treating Type 1 Diabetes
There was a time when having type 1 diabetes was equivalent to a death sentence. Now, thanks to advances in science and medicine, the disease has shifted from deadly to chronic. But this shift, doctors argue, is not good enough. The disease still poses significant health risks, such as blindness and loss of limbs, as … Continue reading Scientists Reach Yet Another Milestone towards Treating Type 1 Diabetes
Meeting designed to bring together investors and researchers seemed to hit pay dirt this year
When I helped plan the first Partnering Forum at the Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa four years ago, I must admit it felt a bit early for the stated goal of the meeting, which was to bring together academic research teams and early stage biotech companies with big pharmaceutical companies and other investors who … Continue reading Meeting designed to bring together investors and researchers seemed to hit pay dirt this year
Policy Matters: Stem Cells and the Public Interest
Guest Author Geoff Lomax is CIRM’s Senior Officer for Medical and Ethical Standards. In the spirit of Stem Cell Awareness Day, Cell Stem Cell has compiled a “Public Interest” collection of articles covering ethical, legal, and social implications of stem cell research and made it freely available. The collection may be found here. The collection … Continue reading Policy Matters: Stem Cells and the Public Interest
Stem Cell Awareness Day and the Stem Cell Person of the Year
Today is Stem Cell Awareness Day, an event that seeks to bring together individuals and organizations around the world working to celebrate and raise awareness about the tremendous progress being made in stem cell research, and to ensure we remain focused on keeping that progress going until we have cures or treatments for people in … Continue reading Stem Cell Awareness Day and the Stem Cell Person of the Year
These Are the Cells You’re Looking for: Scientists Devise New Way to Extract Bone-Making Stem Cells from Fat
Buried within our fat tissue are stashes of stem cells—a hidden reservoir of cells that, if given the right cues, can transform into cells that make up bone, cartilage or fat. These cells therefore represent a much-needed store for regenerative therapies that rebuild bone or cartilage lost to disease or injury. The only problem with … Continue reading These Are the Cells You’re Looking for: Scientists Devise New Way to Extract Bone-Making Stem Cells from Fat
Stem cell stories that caught our eye: heart disease, blindness and replacement teeth
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 looks at approaches to blindness. The Scientist published a nice lay level overview of various teams’ work to use stem cells to cure blindness. … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: heart disease, blindness and replacement teeth
The Stem Cellar 