heart muscle cells matured from embryonic stem cells, courtesy of Sanford-Burnham Medical Research InstituteHere’s the dilemma a group of CIRM grantees near San Diego, CA set out to resolve: hearts contain stem cells, but those cells don’t always repair damage to the heart after a heart attack. "They need to be stimulated," John Cashman told … Continue reading Heart, heal thyself: CIRM grantees find chemical that may stimulate heart stem cells to repair damage after an attack

Katie Sharify talks about participating in Geron's spinal cord injury trialThis week I was lucky enough to interview Katie Sharify in front of a group of scientists who were meeting to discuss the best ways of advancing stem cell clinical trials. Katie was the fifth and final patient to participate in Geron’s CIRM-supported clinical trial … Continue reading Fifth Geron stem cell trial participant discusses her experience

Each month CIRM President Alan Trounson gives his perspective on recently published papers he thinks will be valuable in moving the field of stem cell research forward. This month’s report, along with an archive of past reports, is available on the CIRM website.Although this months full report showcases a couple interesting papers refining our understanding … Continue reading Guest blogger Alan Trounson — October’s stem cell research highlights

Embryonic stem cells matured into choroid plexus epithelial cellsWe and others often write that embryonic stem cells can form all the cell types of the body. Well, what we really mean is that they can form the three basic cell layers, and that those layers generate all the cell types of the body. Scientists haven't … Continue reading Alzheimer’s disease could be helped by a type of brain cell recently generated from embryonic stem cells

In the movie ‘Field of Dreams’ the lead character, played by Kevin Costner, is told to turn his cornfield into a baseball field in the belief that “if you build it, he will come.” Well, under a similar if less mystical guidance we helped the University of California Santa Barbara turn 10,000 square feet of … Continue reading UC Santa Barbara opens 12th and final CIRM-funded regenerative medicine building in the state

Several conflicting stories have been circulating this week regarding the use of stem cells to treat heart damage after a heart attack. They all came out of the American Heart Association meeting that’s taking place this week in Los Angeles.One study found that stem cells taken from a heart attack patient’s own bone marrow did … Continue reading Stem cells treat heart damage – sometimes

Families learn about stem cell research at the Bay Area Science Festival When San Francisco Giants star Buster Posey was rounding the bases at AT&T park after hitting a grand slam home run that sent the team to the World Series against the Detroit Tigers he probably wasn't aware that I was rounding the bases close … Continue reading A lesson on stem cells through Play Doh and more fun from the Bay Area Science Festival

Eight years ago today, 59% of California voters said yes to funding stem cell research in the state. That vote created the state’s stem cell agency, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Since then, we had to fight off legal hurdles, encourage California researchers to start working in the field, and build those researchers quality … Continue reading Happy Birthday CIRM! We’re turning 8 today

Ten years from now, what therapies will come out of stem cell research? We recently asked Larry Goldstein of UC San Diego to make his prediction. Will his work in Alzheimer’s disease be in clinical trials? What about the diabetes, brain cancer, HIV/AIDS and other CIRM-funded projects that are close to clinical trials? Will those … Continue reading Looking into the stem cell crystal ball: what’s next?

Today the San Francisco Giants will be celebrating their World Series victory with a parade that will draw hundreds of thousands of fans to AT&T park, directly across the street from CIRM headquarters. With sports so much on our minds here at CIRM, this seems like a good day to talk about stem cells in … Continue reading On stem cells, athletics and the world series (Go Giants!)