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. Three more studies on Zika and brain stem cells. It’s heartening to see how quickly the scientific community has reacted to the recent Zika virus … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: Zika virus and brain stem cells, new guidelines, re-growing tails and better iPS cells
Month: May 2016
Scientists Make Insulin-Secreting Cells from Stem Cells of Type 1 Diabetes Patients
Stem cell research for diabetes is in a Golden Age. In the past few years, scientists have developed methods to generate insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cell-like cells from embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), and even directly from human skin. We’ve covered a number of recent studies in this area on our blog, … Continue reading Scientists Make Insulin-Secreting Cells from Stem Cells of Type 1 Diabetes Patients
New way to treat Parkinson’s disease
Dopamine-producing brain nerve cells, made from embryonic stem cells Imagine a Parkinson’s treatment that works like a light switch, letting you turn it on or off when needed. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have developed such an approach, and it could reshape treatment for many diseases. For years, scientists have tried to replace the … Continue reading New way to treat Parkinson’s disease
UCSD scientists find new clue into how Zika virus impairs brain development
In April of this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced their conclusion that Zika virus causes microcephaly, a birth defect that results in abnormal brain development and a smaller sized head in infants. Rather than a single study being responsible for their conclusion, the CDC argued that “mounting evidence” from multiple … Continue reading UCSD scientists find new clue into how Zika virus impairs brain development
Stem cell stories that caught our eye: two-week old embryos in the lab, gene edited disease model, recipe for bone and cancer milestone
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. Two-week embryos grabbed headlines. I have rarely seen as many online news outlets pick up a basic science story as happened this week with the … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: two-week old embryos in the lab, gene edited disease model, recipe for bone and cancer milestone
On the Hunt for Huntington’s Disease Treatments in the New Millennium
“Over the next five to ten years, we want to make Huntington’s disease an increasingly treatable condition.” This bold and inspiring statement was made by Dr. Ray Dorsey at the inaugural HD-CARE symposium for Huntington’s disease (HD) research held at UC Irvine last month. The event brought together scientists, doctors, patients, family members, and caregivers … Continue reading On the Hunt for Huntington’s Disease Treatments in the New Millennium
Learning about the Potential of Stem Cells? There’s an App for that.
Staying informed about stem cell research is an important but daunting task. With all of the scientific lingo, the hundreds of websites, and the multitude of diseases related to stem cell research, it's a perfect storm of information overload. For our readers who feel swept up in those waves at times (or most of the … Continue reading Learning about the Potential of Stem Cells? There’s an App for that.
How Adult Neurons Prune
At birth, the human brain holds about 100 billion neurons. These nerve cells already form a complex network of connections essential for brain development and function. During development, neural stem cells create neurons that migrate to their proper locations. Once there, neurons extend axons and dendrites, forming synaptic connections that let them communicate through electrical … Continue reading How Adult Neurons Prune