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. Potential drugs to make brain stem cells do a better job. Patients with strokes and neurodegenerative diseases usually have a double whammy of faulty self-repair … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: brain repair, bone repair and boosting old stem cells
Month: January 2015
In living color: new imaging technique tracks traveling stem cells
Before blood stem cells can mature, before they can grow and multiply into the red blood cells that feed our organs, or the white blood cells that protect us from pathogens, they must go on a journey. This journey, which takes place in the developing embryo, moves blood stem cells from their place of origin … Continue reading In living color: new imaging technique tracks traveling stem cells
Tick-Tock: How our daily body clock protects our stem cells
In our world of tweets, tablets, smartphones and social media, it’s hard to disengage from the always-on pace of modern life. This is in stark contrast to a camping trip. After a few days in the wilderness, you adjust to a more natural sync – waking at sunrise and heading to bed at sundown. Many … Continue reading Tick-Tock: How our daily body clock protects our stem cells
Strong ARMing regenerative medicine; bold thoughts on a bright future
It’s a time-honored tradition for the President of the United States to begin his State of the Union speech by saying “The state of our union is strong.” Well, Ed Lanphier, the incoming Chairman of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) – the industry trade group – took a leaf out of that book in … Continue reading Strong ARMing regenerative medicine; bold thoughts on a bright future
2015 Golden Globes shines light on Alzheimer’s and ALS with acting awards
In between the one-liners, surprise presenters and bottomless champagne, something remarkable happened at last night’s 72nd Golden Globe Awards. 26 awards were given last night to the best in film and television. But two in particular were especially meaningful. I am referring, of course, to Julianne Moore and Eddie Redmayne, who each took home awards … Continue reading 2015 Golden Globes shines light on Alzheimer’s and ALS with acting awards
Stem cell stories that caught our eye: EU approves a cell therapy, second ALS treatment shows promise and new gut cells work
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. Europe approves first 2nd generation stem cell therapy. While blood stem cells in bone marrow have been used to treat patients with certain blood cancers … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: EU approves a cell therapy, second ALS treatment shows promise and new gut cells work
Multitasking molecule repairs damaged nerve cells, scientists discover in ‘stunning’ research breakthrough
Every molecule in the body has a job to do—everything from maintaining healthy cell functions to removing dead or decaying cells requires a coordinated series of molecular switches to complete. There’s a lot we know about what these molecules do, but even more that we are still discovering. And as reported in a pair of … Continue reading Multitasking molecule repairs damaged nerve cells, scientists discover in ‘stunning’ research breakthrough
Scientists identify gene that causes good protein to turn bad
There exists a protein that, most of the time, helps keep the growth of cancer cells in check. But every so often it does the opposite—with potentially deadly consequences. But now, researchers have discovered precisely why this protein, known as TGF-beta, can perform such an abrupt about-face. The results, published today in the journal Science … Continue reading Scientists identify gene that causes good protein to turn bad
CIRM-funded scientists track the steps that take an adult cell back in time
The ability to transform an adult cell back into a stem cell has been heralded as one of the greatest achievements of the 21st century. Scientists have lauded this discovery, made by Nobel Prize-winning scientist Shinya Yamanaka, as a game changer for the future of medicine. Despite this extraordinary advance, the method remains inefficient. And … Continue reading CIRM-funded scientists track the steps that take an adult cell back in time
CIRM 2.0: A New Year, a new start, a new way to advance research
It’s tradition to begin the New Year by making a resolution. Wikipedia has a wonderful description of what this involves saying it is where “a person makes a promise to do an act of self-improvement or something slightly nice, such as opening doors for people beginning from New Year’s Day.” Well, by that criteria, CIRM … Continue reading CIRM 2.0: A New Year, a new start, a new way to advance research
The Stem Cellar 