The Zika virus scare came to a head in 2015, prompting the World Health Organization to declare the outbreak a global health emergency earlier this year. From a research standpoint, much of the effort has centered on understanding whether the Zika infection is actually a cause of birth defects like microcephaly and how the virus … Continue reading UCSF Scientists find molecular link between brain stem cells and Zika Infection
Author: Karen Ring
Getting On Tract: Stem Cells Regenerate Injured Spinal Cord in Rats
The spinal cord acts as a highway that transports electrical signals from your brain to the rest of your body through long bundles of nerve fibers. It allows your brain to communicate with the rest of your body to coordinate movement and reflexes and to receive sensory information. When the spinal cord is damaged, the … Continue reading Getting On Tract: Stem Cells Regenerate Injured Spinal Cord in Rats
In the Race to Cure Blindness, Who Will Cross the Finish Line First Optogenetics or Stem Cells?
Before you read this blog, I wanted to share a photo that I took (yes with my iPhone 6…) last week of a beautiful sunset at Ocean Beach in San Francisco. I’m showing you this picture not to gloat that I live by the ocean, but to make a point. You’re able to enjoy this … Continue reading In the Race to Cure Blindness, Who Will Cross the Finish Line First Optogenetics or Stem Cells?
Five Cool Stem Cell Technologies to Tell Your Friends
As a former stem cell scientist turned science communicator, I love answering science questions no matter how complicated or bizarre. The other day my friend asked me about what CRISPR was and how scientists were using it on stem cells to help people. This got me thinking that it would be cool to do a … Continue reading Five Cool Stem Cell Technologies to Tell Your Friends
CIRM Alpha Stem Cell Clinics: Paving a Path to Cures
Our mission at CIRM is to accelerate stem cell treatments to patients with unmet medical needs. Over the past ten years, our agency has been tasked with carefully distributing $3 billion dollars of California state tax payer money to the best and brightest scientists in California (and outside too, providing they meet certain requirements). These … Continue reading CIRM Alpha Stem Cell Clinics: Paving a Path to Cures
Unlocking the brain’s secrets: scientists find over 100 unique mutations in brain cells
Your brain is made up of approximately 100 billion neurons. These are the cells that process information and pass along electrical and chemical signals to their other neuron buddies throughout the body to coordinate thoughts, movement, and many other functions. It’s no small task to create the intricate neuronal network that is the backbone of … Continue reading Unlocking the brain’s secrets: scientists find over 100 unique mutations in brain cells
A new way to make heart stem cells could potentially repair the damage of heart disease
Today we’re going to talk about heart failure. It’s a sobering topic given that over 20 million people world wide are currently suffering from this disease. Heart failure happens when the body’s heart can no longer pump blood effectively, which can lead to many nasty side effects and inevitably hastens death. Typical strategies for treating … Continue reading A new way to make heart stem cells could potentially repair the damage of heart disease
Scientists use human stem cell models to target deadly brain cancer
Malignant brain cancer is a devastating disease and it’s estimated that more than 16,000 patients will die of it this year. One of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer is gliomas, which originate from the support cells in the brain or spine that keep nerve cells happy and functioning. Unfortunately, there is no cure … Continue reading Scientists use human stem cell models to target deadly brain cancer
Growing Stem Cell Research in California (Video)
How a Gladstone scientist is using bioengineering to push the pace of stem cell research At CIRM, we strive to fund the most promising stem cell research and speed the advancement of stem cell treatments to patients who need them. Because we are a state agency, we generally focus on funding scientists, universities, and companies … Continue reading Growing Stem Cell Research in California (Video)
CIRM-funded study suggests methods to make pluripotent stem cells are safe
We live in an era where stem cell treatments are already being tested in human clinical trials for eye disease, spinal cord injury, and type 1 diabetes. The hope is that transplanting stem cells or their cell derivatives will replace diseased tissue, restore function, and cure patients – all while being safe and without causing … Continue reading CIRM-funded study suggests methods to make pluripotent stem cells are safe
The Stem Cellar 