HOPE for patients with a muscle destroying disease

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Caleb Sizemore, photo by Todd Dubnicoff Caleb Sizemore says growing up with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) was tough. The disease is a rare genetic disorder that slowly destroys a person’s muscles, impairing their ability to walk or breathe. Eventually it attacks the heart leading to premature … Continue reading HOPE for patients with a muscle destroying disease

Stem Cell Agency Hires New Vice President of Medical Affairs & Policy

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Dr. Sean Turbeville Sean Turbeville PhD. is joining the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) as the Vice President of Medical Affairs and Policy. Dr. Turbeville has almost 20 years of experience in Medical Affairs, creating strategies and teams for biopharma and digital healthcare companies. He … Continue reading Stem Cell Agency Hires New Vice President of Medical Affairs & Policy

Joining the movement to fight rare diseases

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST It’s hard to think of something as being rare when it affects up to 30 million Americans and 300 million people worldwide. But the truth is there are more than 6,000 conditions – those affecting 200,000 people or fewer – that are considered rare.   Today, … Continue reading Joining the movement to fight rare diseases

Stem Cell Agency Board Approves Funding for Rare Immune Disorder

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Taylor Lookofsky (center), a person with IPEX syndrome, with his father Brian and Dr. Rosa Bacchetta IPEX syndrome is a rare condition where the body can’t control or restrain an immune response, so the person’s immune cells attack their own healthy tissue. The syndrome mostly affects … Continue reading Stem Cell Agency Board Approves Funding for Rare Immune Disorder

It’s nice to be appreciated

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Photo: courtesy City of Hope No one likes to be taken for granted, to feel that people only like you because you have scads of cash and they want some of it. That’s why it’s so lovely when you feel you are appreciated because of all … Continue reading It’s nice to be appreciated

CIRM-supported therapy for blood cancers gets FDA fast track

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST People often complain about how long it can take to turn a scientific discovery into an approved therapy for patients. And they’re right. It can take years, decades even. But for Immune-Onc Therapeutics the path to FDA approval may just have been shortened. Back in April … Continue reading CIRM-supported therapy for blood cancers gets FDA fast track

CIRM-Funded Study Helping Babies Battle a Deadly Immune Disorder Gets Boost from FDA

Hataalii Begay, age 4, first child treated with UCSF gene therapy for Artemis-SCID THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST When Hataalii Begay was born in a remote part of the Navajo nation he was diagnosed with a rare, usually fatal condition. Today, thanks to a therapy developed at UCSF and funded by CIRM, … Continue reading CIRM-Funded Study Helping Babies Battle a Deadly Immune Disorder Gets Boost from FDA

How a tiny patch is helping restore lasting vision

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Researchers are working on a stem cell-based retinal implant that could be used for people with with advanced dry age-related macular degeneration. (Photo/ Britney O. Pennington) When Anna Kuehl began losing her vision, she feared losing the ability to read and go on long walks in … Continue reading How a tiny patch is helping restore lasting vision

Meet the man who is unlocking the secrets of autism and sending mini-brains into space

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Dr. Alysson Muotri, UC San Diego Normally if you meet someone who has a mini-fridge filled with brains, your first thought is to call the police. But when that someone is Dr. Alysson Muotri, a professor at U.C. San Diego, your second thought is “do tell … Continue reading Meet the man who is unlocking the secrets of autism and sending mini-brains into space

CIRM Board gives thumbs up to training and treatment programs

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST CIRM Bridges student discusses her poster presentation At CIRM, the bread and butter of what we do is funding research and hopefully advancing therapies to patients. But the jam, that's our education programs. Helping train the next generation of stem cell and gene therapy scientists is … Continue reading CIRM Board gives thumbs up to training and treatment programs