In 2017 Texas passed a sweeping new law, HB 810, which allowed medical clinics to provide “investigational stem cell treatments to patients with certain severe chronic diseases or terminal illnesses.” Those in favor of the law argued that patients battling life-threatening or life-changing diseases should have the right to try stem cell therapies that were … Continue reading Stories that caught our eye: Is a Texas law opening up access to stem cell treatments working? Another CIRM-funded company gets good news from the FDA.
Author: Kevin McCormack
Using blood stem cells as delivery vehicles to weed out hidden cancer cells
Most stem cell research is focused on finding ways to make stem cells become particular cell types to treat different diseases. Scientists at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, however, have found an atypical use for blood stem cells: delivery vehicles. Zhen Gu’s group wanted to test a new way to treat acute myeloid leukemia … Continue reading Using blood stem cells as delivery vehicles to weed out hidden cancer cells
The Sad Lane: How I navigated one of the happiest times of my life while my mom was losing hers to Alzheimer’s
In 1983 President Ronald Reagan named November as Alzheimer's Awareness month, to raise awareness about the growing impact the disease was having on Americans. At the time there were less than two million people with the disease. Today that number has grown to more than five million and is expected to reach 16 million by … Continue reading The Sad Lane: How I navigated one of the happiest times of my life while my mom was losing hers to Alzheimer’s
Stories that caught our eye: SanBio’s Traumatic Brain Injury trial hits its target; A new approach to endometriosis; and a SCID kid celebrates Halloween in style
Hopeful signs for treating brain injuries There are more than 200,000 cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the US every year. The injuries can be devastating, resulting in everything from difficult sleeping to memory loss, depression and severe disability. There is no cure. But this week the SanBio Group had some encouraging news from … Continue reading Stories that caught our eye: SanBio’s Traumatic Brain Injury trial hits its target; A new approach to endometriosis; and a SCID kid celebrates Halloween in style
Living with sickle cell disease: one person’s story of pain and prejudice and their hopes for a stem cell therapy
Whenever we hold an in-person Board meeting at CIRM we like to bring along a patient or patient advocate to address the Board. Hearing from the people they are trying to help, who are benefiting or may benefit from a therapy CIRM is funding, reminds them of the real-world implications of the decisions they make … Continue reading Living with sickle cell disease: one person’s story of pain and prejudice and their hopes for a stem cell therapy
How stem cells may help children battling birth injuries
From time to time we invite patients or patient advocates to post a guest blog on the Stem Cellar. Today we are featuring Brigitta Burguess, a mother and writer from Michigan, who focuses on pregnancy, parenting, and children with disabilities. Brigitta writes for the HIE Help Center, a website that offers information and supportive resources … Continue reading How stem cells may help children battling birth injuries
Stem Cell Agency Invests in New Immunotherapy Approach to HIV, Plus Promising Projects Targeting Blindness and Leukemia
While we have made great progress in developing therapies that control the AIDS virus, HIV/AIDS remains a chronic condition and HIV medicines themselves can give rise to a new set of medical issues. That’s why the Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded $3.8 million to a team from City of Hope … Continue reading Stem Cell Agency Invests in New Immunotherapy Approach to HIV, Plus Promising Projects Targeting Blindness and Leukemia
Sequencing data helps us understand the genes involved in heart cell development
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States and is estimated to be responsible for 31% of all deaths globally. This disease encompasses a wide variety of conditions that all effect how well your heart is able to pump blood to the rest of your body. … Continue reading Sequencing data helps us understand the genes involved in heart cell development
Hits and Myths as people celebrate Stem Cell Awareness Day
Every year, the second Wednesday in October is set aside as Stem Cell Awareness Day, a time to celebrate the progress being made in the field and to remind us of the challenges that lie ahead. While the event began here in California in 2008, with then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger highlighting the work of CIRM, saying: … Continue reading Hits and Myths as people celebrate Stem Cell Awareness Day
Could freezing your stem cells save your life? Fat chance.
For years new parents have had to decide if they want to save their baby’s cord blood because it is rich in stem cells and could, theoretically, be used later to help the child if they develop diseases like leukemia. Now there’s a new twist to this idea, with clinics offering to store fat from … Continue reading Could freezing your stem cells save your life? Fat chance.
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