DNA is the fundamental molecule to all living things. The genetic sequences embedded in its double-helical structure contain the instructions for producing proteins, the building blocks of our cells. When our cells divide, DNA readily unzips into two strands and makes a copy of itself for each new daughter cell. In a Nature Communications report … Continue reading Harnessing DNA as a programmable instruction kit for stem cell function
Year: 2017
One day, scientists could grow the human cardiovascular system from stem cells
The human cardiovascular system is an intricate, complex network of blood vessels that include arteries, capillaries and veins. These structures distribute blood from the heart to all parts of the body, from our head to our toes, and back again. This week, two groups of scientists published studies showing that they can create key components … Continue reading One day, scientists could grow the human cardiovascular system from stem cells
CIRM-funded stem cell clinical trial for spinal cord injury expands patient recruitment
It’s always great to start the week off with some good news. Today we learned that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given Asterias Biotherapeutics approval to expand the number and type of people with spinal cord injuries that it treats in their CIRM-funded clinical trial. Up till now, Asterias has been treating people … Continue reading CIRM-funded stem cell clinical trial for spinal cord injury expands patient recruitment
Stories that caught our eye: smelling weight gain, colon cancer & diet and diabetes & broken bones
How smelling your food could cause weight gain (Karen Ring). Here’s the headline that caught my eye this week: “Smelling your food first can make you fat…” It’s a bizarre statement, but the claim is backed by scientific research coming from a new study in Cell Metabolism by researchers at the University of California Berkeley. … Continue reading Stories that caught our eye: smelling weight gain, colon cancer & diet and diabetes & broken bones
Lights, Camera, Stem Cells! How photo-responsive hydrogels can improve stem cell therapies
These days, going to the movie theater is like riding the wildest rollercoaster at your local theme park. It can be an IMAX 3D, surround sound, vibrating seat experience that makes you feel like you’re living the actual movie. As the entertainment industry evolves towards more intense, realistic cinematic experiences, scientists are following a similar … Continue reading Lights, Camera, Stem Cells! How photo-responsive hydrogels can improve stem cell therapies
Making brain stem cells act more like salmon than bloodhounds
Like salmon swimming against a river current, brain stem cells can travel against their normal migration stream with the help of electrical stimuli, so says CIRM-funded research published this week in Stem Cell Reports. The research, carried out by a team of UC Davis scientists, could one day provide a means for guiding brain stem … Continue reading Making brain stem cells act more like salmon than bloodhounds
Emotions and gratitude at changing of the guard at Stem Cell Agency
Randy, as regular readers of this blog know, is, or rather was, the President and CEO of CIRM. James Harrison is less well known to the outside world but his imprint on CIRM, as our General Counsel and one of the key figures behind Proposition 71, is even bigger than that of Randy’s. Randy came … Continue reading Emotions and gratitude at changing of the guard at Stem Cell Agency
Stem Cell Stories that Caught Our Eye: perfecting pluripotency, building a spinal cord, and CIRM Board funds new clinical trials
Here are the stem cell stories that caught our eye this week. Perfecting Pluripotency in stem cells. The power of pluripotent stem cells lies in their ability to become any cell type in the body. But how did they get this impressive power? Scientists from the University of Zurich in Switzerland think they might have … Continue reading Stem Cell Stories that Caught Our Eye: perfecting pluripotency, building a spinal cord, and CIRM Board funds new clinical trials
Scientist grow diseased brain cells in bulk to study Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
Daily trips to the local grocery store have become a thing of the past for many with the rise of wholesale stores like Costco and online giants like Amazon. Buying in bulk is attractive for people who lead busy lives, have large families, or just love having endless pairs of clean socks. Scientists who study … Continue reading Scientist grow diseased brain cells in bulk to study Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
Wall Street Journal features CIRM-funded clinical trials aiming for a diabetes cure
We think CIRM-funded clinical trials hold so much promise that it doesn’t surprise us when major news organizations publish stories about these projects that aim to provide stem cell treatments to patients with unmet medical needs. But we certainly don’t mind the attention! This past Saturday, for example, the Wall Street Journal featured two CIRM-funded … Continue reading Wall Street Journal features CIRM-funded clinical trials aiming for a diabetes cure
The Stem Cellar 