Nature Cell Biology cover The global pandemic exposed deep inequities in our health care system and highlighted the need for more diversity in scientific and medical research. The virus hit communities of color the hardest. That in part prompted widespread calls for greater diversity at every level of research. New models for research A recently … Continue reading A New Model for Diversity in Scientific and Medical Research
Month: November 2021
CIRM Funds Development of New CAR T-Cell Therapy for Blood Cancers
Dr. Ezra Cohen, photo courtesy UCSD Patients with blood cancers often respond well to existing treatments. However, those therapies do not work for everyone. For patients whose disease resists standard treatment, options can be limited. To address that need, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded $4.1 million to support the development of … Continue reading CIRM Funds Development of New CAR T-Cell Therapy for Blood Cancers
Bridges Scholar Spotlight: Samira Alwahabi
THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST For more than a decade, CIRM has funded a number of educational and research training programs to give students the opportunity to explore stem cell science. One such project, the Bridges to Stem Cell Research program, helps train future generation of scientists by preparing undergraduate and … Continue reading Bridges Scholar Spotlight: Samira Alwahabi
CIRM-Funded Study Advances Off-the-Shelf Cancer Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment by harnessing the body's own immune system to fight disease. Researchers have developed several forms of immunotherapy, including targeted antibodies, cancer vaccines, and cell-based therapies. These treatments have improved outcomes for many patients with aggressive cancers. However, most immunotherapies require personalized manufacturing. Scientists must create each treatment for an individual … Continue reading CIRM-Funded Study Advances Off-the-Shelf Cancer Immunotherapy
Stem Cell and Gene Editing Collaboration Advances Type 1 Diabetes Therapy
ViaCyte's implantable cell-based therapy for type 1 diabetes Turning a promising discovery into a patient therapy takes years of research and strong partnerships. That is exactly what two leading biotechnology companies have done. ViaCyte and CRISPR Therapeutics have combined stem cell science and gene-editing technology to develop a potential new treatment for type 1 diabetes … Continue reading Stem Cell and Gene Editing Collaboration Advances Type 1 Diabetes Therapy
A look back at one year post Prop 14
State flag of California 2020 was, by any standards, a pretty wacky year. Pandemic. Political convulsions. And a huge amount of uncertainty about funding life-saving therapies at CIRM. Happily, all of that turned out OK. We got vaccines to take care of COVID. The election was won fair and square (seriously). Proposition 14 was approved … Continue reading A look back at one year post Prop 14
Old therapies inspire new hope for treatment of pediatric brain tumors
Image courtesy St. Jude Children's Research Hospital A recent study led by John Hopkins Medicine has found that combining two 'old therapies' can offer a surprising new purpose for fighting pediatric brain tumors. Medulloblastoma Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. It grows quickly and typically requires surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. A … Continue reading Old therapies inspire new hope for treatment of pediatric brain tumors
Promising new approach to treat epilepsy
Image courtesy of Epilepsy.com A new therapeutic approach, supported by CIRM, that blocks brain signals that can cause epilepsy has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical trials. More on epilepsy Nearly 3.5 million Americans suffer from some form of epilepsy. It can affect people in different ways, from stiff … Continue reading Promising new approach to treat epilepsy
COVID is a real pain in the ear
The more we learn about COVID-19, the more concerning its effects become. The global death toll has surpassed five million. Survivors can also experience long-term health problems. COVID-19 can affect the lungs, heart, and brain. Researchers now find that it can also affect the ears. The virus may cause hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness. Viral … Continue reading COVID is a real pain in the ear
COVID-19 Underscored the Need for Rigorous Stem Cell Research
Coronavirus particles, illustration. When COVID-19 emerged, researchers worldwide raced to find treatments that could save lives. That urgency led to remarkable breakthroughs, including highly effective vaccines. It also led to treatments that failed to deliver meaningful benefits and, in some cases, caused harm. The pandemic revealed both the strengths and weaknesses of the research ecosystem. … Continue reading COVID-19 Underscored the Need for Rigorous Stem Cell Research