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. Latest mini-organ, a prostate, fingers BPA. A team at the University of Illinois, at Chicago, has added the prostate gland to the growing list of … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: Prostate cancer and BPA, mini organs and diabetes trial
Month: July 2015
Bridging the gap: training scientists to speak everyday English
Getting a start in your chosen career is never easy. Without experience it’s hard to get a job. And without a job you can’t get experience. That’s why the CIRM Bridges program was created, to help give undergraduate and Master’s level students a chance to get the experience they need to start a career in … Continue reading Bridging the gap: training scientists to speak everyday English
Global stem cell market predicted to reach $40 billion in five years, even bigger when mixed with new technologies
The global consulting firm Frost and Sullivan held a webinar yesterday in which they noted health care systems everywhere are facing an increasing challenge of costly chronic care. They suggested health care providers have started to embrace regenerative medicine as a viable alternative. Because of its power to change the course of disease, the consultants … Continue reading Global stem cell market predicted to reach $40 billion in five years, even bigger when mixed with new technologies
Even the early worm gets old: study unlocks a key to aging
A new study poses the question, ‘When does aging really begin?’ One glance in the mirror every morning is enough for me to know that regardless of where it begins I know where it’s going. And it’s not pretty. But enough about me. Getting back to the question about aging, two researchers at Northwestern University … Continue reading Even the early worm gets old: study unlocks a key to aging
Sonic Hedgehog provides pathway to fight blood cancers
For a lot of people Sonic Hedgehog is a video game. But for stem cell researcher Dr. Catriona Jamieson it is a signaling pathway in the body that offers a way to tackle and defeat some deadly blood cancers. Dr. Jamieson - a researcher at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) - has a … Continue reading Sonic Hedgehog provides pathway to fight blood cancers
Improving process drives progress in stem cell research
Process is not a sexy word. No one gets excited thinking about improving a process. Yet behind every great idea, behind every truly effective program is someone who figured out a way to improve the process, to make that idea not just work, but work better. It’s not glamorous. Sometimes it’s not even pretty. But … Continue reading Improving process drives progress in stem cell research
CIRM Board meeting now underway – key votes expected on new CIRM 2.0 proposals and funding for disease research
The Board meeting is taking place at the Marriott in downtown Oakland. If you would like to hear the discussion there are a number of options: Dial in Information: Dial In Number: (866) 254-5938 Access Code: 365023 WebEx Link: ------------------------------------------------------- To join the event as an attendee ------------------------------------------------------- 1. Go to https://cirm.webex.com/cirm/onstage/g.php?MTID=ee3fd12036ef7028c9f0596c3... 2. Click "Join … Continue reading CIRM Board meeting now underway – key votes expected on new CIRM 2.0 proposals and funding for disease research
Cranking up stem cell production for when therapies are approved for widespread use
Getting a cell therapy from the research bench to patients requires leaping many hurdles. Perhaps two of the highest arise when proving the potential therapy is safe enough to begin clinical trials and then when scaling up production to meet the demand of thousands of patients. An even dozen CIRM-funded projects have made it over … Continue reading Cranking up stem cell production for when therapies are approved for widespread use
2,000 year old drug could fight breast cancer
Aspirin has been around about as long as anyone has been writing about health. Hippocrates, who was born in 460 BC and is frequently referred to as “The Father of Western Medicine”, used willow bark and leaves – which contain the active ingredients found in aspirin – to help ease pain and fevers. Now a … Continue reading 2,000 year old drug could fight breast cancer
Mini-Brains Help Unlock Autism’s Secrets
Some diseases like sickle cell anemia, an inherited blood disorder, can be traced to a single known genetic mutation. But other diseases like autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are so varied in their symptoms and severity that pinpointing the underlying cause is extremely complicated. People with autism typically have difficulties communicating with the world around them, … Continue reading Mini-Brains Help Unlock Autism’s Secrets
The Stem Cellar 