Some medical therapies have been around for so long that we naturally assume we understand how they work. That’s not always the case. Take aspirin for example. It’s been used for more than 4,000 years to treat pain and inflammation but it was only in the 1970’s that we really learned how it works. The … Continue reading Surprise findings about bone marrow transplants could lead to more effective stem cell therapies
Author: Kevin McCormack
A Patient Advocate’s Personal Manifesto
Janni Lehrer-Stein was just 26 when she was diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease and told she was going to be blind within six months. The doctor who gave her the news told her “But don’t worry, people like you are usually hit and killed by a bus long before they go completely blind.” At … Continue reading A Patient Advocate’s Personal Manifesto
CIRM Board invests in three new stem cell clinical trials targeting arthritis, cancer and deadly infections
Every day at CIRM we get calls from people looking for a stem cell therapy to help them fight a life-threatening or life-altering disease or condition. One of the most common calls is about osteoarthritis, a painful condition where the cartilage that helps cushion our joints is worn away, leaving bone to rub on bone. … Continue reading CIRM Board invests in three new stem cell clinical trials targeting arthritis, cancer and deadly infections
Turning the corner with the FDA and NIH; CIRM creates new collaborations to advance stem cell research
This blog is part of the Month of CIRM series on the Stem Cellar A lot can change in a couple of years. Just take our relationship with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). When we were putting together our Strategic Plan in 2015 we did a survey of key players and stakeholders at … Continue reading Turning the corner with the FDA and NIH; CIRM creates new collaborations to advance stem cell research
Getting faster, working smarter: how changing the way we work is paying big dividends
This blog is part of the Month of CIRM series Speeding up the way you do things isn’t always a good idea. Just ask someone who got a ticket for going 65mph in a 30mph zone. But at CIRM we have found that doing things at an accelerated pace is paying off in a big … Continue reading Getting faster, working smarter: how changing the way we work is paying big dividends
Building California’s stem cell research community, from the ground up
For week three of the Month of CIRM, our topic is infrastructure. What is infrastructure? Read on for a big picture overview and then we’ll fill in the details over the course of the week. When CIRM was created in 2001, our goal was to grow the stem cell research field in California. But to … Continue reading Building California’s stem cell research community, from the ground up
Stem Cell Awareness Day: Past, Present, Future
In 2008, the then California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared Sept. 25 to be Stem Cell Awareness Day. In the proclamation he said, ”The discoveries being made today in our Golden State will have a great impact on many around the world for generations to come.” In the years since, we have moved steadily towards turning … Continue reading Stem Cell Awareness Day: Past, Present, Future
Stem Cell Stories that Caught Our Eye: New law to protect consumers; using skin to monitor blood sugar; and a win for the good guys
New law targets stem cell clinics that offer therapies not approved by the FDA For some time now CIRM and others around California have been warning consumers about the risks involved in going to clinics that offer stem cell therapies that have not been tested in a clinical trial or approved by the U.S. Food … Continue reading Stem Cell Stories that Caught Our Eye: New law to protect consumers; using skin to monitor blood sugar; and a win for the good guys
A month of CIRM: Gauging our progress to plan for our future
Every once in a while, it’s a good idea to take a step back and look at what you’ve done, what you’ve achieved. It’s not about identifying the things that have gone well and patting yourself on the back for them; it’s more a matter of assessing where you started, what your goals were, where … Continue reading A month of CIRM: Gauging our progress to plan for our future
How a funny-looking creature could unlock the secrets of limb regeneration
In the world of funny-looking creatures, the Axolotl would have to rank in the top ten alongside such notables as the naked mole rat and the blob fish (the official mascot for the Ugly Animal Preservation Society). But the Axolotl does have one attribute that makes it attractive to more than just another Axolotl. That’s … Continue reading How a funny-looking creature could unlock the secrets of limb regeneration
The Stem Cellar 