To truly understand a disease you need to be able to see how it works, how it causes our body to act in ways that it shouldn’t. In cancer, for example, you can take cells from a tumor and observe them under a microscope to see what is going on. But with diseases of the … Continue reading Peering inside the brain: how stem cells could help turn skin into therapies for dementia
Month: December 2014
How stem cells made the list of scientific breakthroughs of 2014 (twice actually)
This is the time of year when everyone puts out their lists of the best and worst of the last 12 months. The best movies (”Guardians of the Galaxy”, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”) the worst movies (“Guardians of the Galaxy”, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” – it’s all a matter of taste really) the best music … Continue reading How stem cells made the list of scientific breakthroughs of 2014 (twice actually)
A look at 2014: some of the lowlights of stem cell research this past year
It’s been quite a year in stem cell research. Here at the stem cell agency eight projects that we are funding have been approved for clinical trials and several more hope to get approval in early 2015. And Dr. Don Kohn and his team at UCLA announced that they have effectively cured Severe Combined Immunodeficiency … Continue reading A look at 2014: some of the lowlights of stem cell research this past year
A Christmas miracle or untested therapy? Why even feel-good stem cell stories need to be checked for accuracy
We’ve written several pieces over the last couple of years about the trend for professional athletes to turn to untested and/or unproven stem cell therapies to help them bounce back from injuries. This week, however, came news of something a little more worrying. Ice hockey legend Gordie Howe was given stem cells to help him … Continue reading A Christmas miracle or untested therapy? Why even feel-good stem cell stories need to be checked for accuracy
Stem Cell Stories that Caught Your Eye: The Most Popular Stem Cellar Stories of 2014
2014 marked an extraordinary year for regenerative medicine and for CIRM. We welcomed a new president, several of our research programs have moved into clinical trials—and our goal of accelerating treatments for patients in need is within our grasp. As we look back we’d like to revisit The Stem Cellar’s ten most popular stories of … Continue reading Stem Cell Stories that Caught Your Eye: The Most Popular Stem Cellar Stories of 2014
Stem cell stories that caught our eye: two new approaches to treating diabetes and a video on why this work excites
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. Insulin producing cells avoid immune rejection. The phrase, there is more than one way to skin a cat often applies to the science of trying … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: two new approaches to treating diabetes and a video on why this work excites
CIRM-Funded UC-Irvine Team Set to Launch Stem Cell Trial for Retinitis Pigmentosa in 2015
Rosalinda Barrero has often been mistaken for a rude snob. She has the habit of not saying hello or even acknowledging the presence of acquaintances that she passes around town. But in fact this kind, loving mom of three has been steadily losing her vision over a lifetime. And she doesn’t seem blind because people … Continue reading CIRM-Funded UC-Irvine Team Set to Launch Stem Cell Trial for Retinitis Pigmentosa in 2015
‘Tis the Season to Talk Science
And just like that another holiday season is upon us. It’s that time of year when scientists across the nation sit down for their family holiday dinner and attempt to answer the following question without triggering blank stares around the dining room table: “So dear, tell me again, what is it that you do in … Continue reading ‘Tis the Season to Talk Science
Key stem cell gene controlled from afar, Canadian scientists discover
Embryonic stem cells can, by definition, mature into any cell type in the body. They are able to maintain this state of so-called pluripotency with the help of a gene called Sox2. And now, researchers at the University of Toronto (U of T) have discovered the unseen force that controls it. These findings, reported in … Continue reading Key stem cell gene controlled from afar, Canadian scientists discover
Maintaining the momentum: a good start but CIRM 2.0 is just the first step
Newton’s First Law of Physics states that an object either remains at rest or continues to move at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force. Well, for the stem cell agency the external force was an exercise in thinking differently about how we do business. That resulted in our governing Board approving … Continue reading Maintaining the momentum: a good start but CIRM 2.0 is just the first step
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