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. Mimicking human air sacs – a new lab tool for studying respiratory disease Studying a flat lawn of cells in a petri dish is so … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: 3D mini-lungs, Parkinson’s culprit, Motherless babies!
Month: September 2016
Asterias’ stem cell clinical trial shows encouraging results for spinal cord injury patients
When researchers are carrying out a clinical trial they have two goals: first, show that it is safe (the old “do no harm” maxim) and second, show it works. One without the other doesn’t do anyone any good in the long run. A few weeks ago Asterias Biotherapeutics showed that their CIRM-funded stem cell therapy … Continue reading Asterias’ stem cell clinical trial shows encouraging results for spinal cord injury patients
CIRM’s Randy Mills: New FDA rules for stem cells won’t fix the problem
For the last two days the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been holding a hearing in Bethesda, Maryland on new regulations that would tighten control over stem cell treatments. The FDA invited public testimony during the hearing on the regulations that would impact many of the clinics that currently offer unproven therapies The testimony … Continue reading CIRM’s Randy Mills: New FDA rules for stem cells won’t fix the problem
Salk scientists explain why brain cells are genetically diverse
Recent studies show why brain is genetically diverse, and neurons in the same brain can carry slightly different DNA blueprints. These differences may give neurons distinct functions. We can see this in genetically identical twins who sometimes grow less identical over time. Some develop different appearances. Others diverge in health, with one twin developing a … Continue reading Salk scientists explain why brain cells are genetically diverse
Using stem cells from children with rare diseases to find new treatments
For Chris Waters, the motivation behind leaving big pharma and biotech to start a nonprofit focused on rare childhood diseases is simple: “What matters most is empowering families and helping them accelerate the research that can deliver the clinical solutions their children urgently need,” she says. Rare Science Chris is the founder of Rare Science. … Continue reading Using stem cells from children with rare diseases to find new treatments
Stem cell stories that caught our eye: improving heart care, fixing sickle cell disease, stem cells & sugar
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. Using “disease in a dish” model to improve heart care Medications we take to improve our quality of life might actually be putting our lives … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: improving heart care, fixing sickle cell disease, stem cells & sugar
HOPE for patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy-associated heart disease
It’s an exciting week for CIRM-funded clinical trials. Yesterday, we blogged about a young man named Kris Boesen who is responding positively to a stem cell therapy in a Phase 1/2a CIRM-funded clinical trial for spinal cord injury run by Asterias Biotherapeutics. Paralyzed from the chest down after a terrible car accident, Kris now has regained some use … Continue reading HOPE for patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy-associated heart disease
Young man with spinal cord injury regains use of hands and arms after stem cell therapy
Kris Boesen - Photo courtesy USC Hope is fragile. We cling to it in hard times because it helps us believe we can endure today’s struggles and that tomorrow will be better. Kris Boesen understands what it means to hold on to hope. On March 6 of this year, a car accident paralyzed him from … Continue reading Young man with spinal cord injury regains use of hands and arms after stem cell therapy
CIRM jumped on the iPS cell bandwagon before it had wheels
Part of The Stem Cellar series on ten years of iPS cells The first press release I issued that announced new research grants after arriving at CIRM in 2008 detailed 18 “New Cell Line” awards. Ten of those grants, announced in June that year, were for a type of stem cell that had not even … Continue reading CIRM jumped on the iPS cell bandwagon before it had wheels
Stem cell stories that caught our eye: functioning liver tissue, making new bone, stem cells and mental health
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. Functioning liver tissue. Scientists are looking to stem cells as a potential alternative treatment to liver transplantation for patients with end-stage liver disease. Efforts are … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: functioning liver tissue, making new bone, stem cells and mental health