In October 2019, 20-year-old Jordan Janz became the first person in the world to receive an experimental therapy for cystinosis. Cystinosis is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the accumulation of an amino acid called cystine in different tissues and organs of the body including the kidneys, eyes, muscles, liver, pancreas, and brain. This accumulation … Continue reading An experimental gene therapy with a hairy twist
Author: Katie Sharify
Stem cells explained in different languages
Science is hard. Explaining complex science to non-scientists is SUPER hard. But explaining science to non-native English speakers presents a whole new set of challenges. I would know. I’m a first-generation immigrant whose highly-educated parents arrived in their new home—the United States—a tad too late to become fluent in its native tongue. I’ve also … Continue reading Stem cells explained in different languages
IBSC directors bring in nearly $12 million to fund the future of bimolecular research at UC Santa Cruz
THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Left to right: Lindsay Hinck and Camilla Forsberg UC Santa Cruz professors Camilla Forsberg and Lindsay Hinck are not only pushing boundaries in their field as the female-led program directors of the Institute for the Biology of Stem Cells (IBSC), they’ve also been looking for ways … Continue reading IBSC directors bring in nearly $12 million to fund the future of bimolecular research at UC Santa Cruz
Celebrating National DNA Day Together
DNA provides the code of life for nearly all living organisms. So, it’s no wonder that scientists have been studying DNA and the human genome (complete set of DNA) for decades. In April 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick, in collaboration with Rosalind Franklin, first described the structure of DNA as a double helix. In … Continue reading Celebrating National DNA Day Together
Recovery from muscle loss injuries hindered by immune cell conflicts
During a game in 2018, Alex Smith suffered a compound fracture that broke both the tibia and fibula in his right leg. The gruesome injury aside, the former 49ers quarterback soon developed life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis — a rare bacterial infection — that resulted in sepsis and required him to undergo 17 surgeries. In a battle to save his … Continue reading Recovery from muscle loss injuries hindered by immune cell conflicts
Stem cell-derived retinal patch continues to show promising results two years post-implantation
Earlier this year we wrote about the promising results of a phase 1 clinical trial aimed at replacing the deteriorating cells in the retinas of people suffering from age-related macular degeneration- one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide for people over 50. Now there’s even more good news! Highlighted in a news story on … Continue reading Stem cell-derived retinal patch continues to show promising results two years post-implantation
Rare Disease: An Uphill Battle for Diagnosis and Treatment
THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST From left to right: Baby Dalia pre-diagnosis, Dalia on her way to the kindergarten, and Dalia today. When Dalia was 5 years old, she was finally diagnosed with MERRF syndrome- an extremely rare form of mitochondrial disease. By then, her parents had been searching for an … Continue reading Rare Disease: An Uphill Battle for Diagnosis and Treatment
First Patient Dosed in Phase 1 Clinical Trial for T1D
THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST There’s some good news for a company and a therapeutic approach that CIRM has been supporting for many years. In September 2018, CRISPR Theraputics and ViaCyte entered a partnership to discover, develop and market gene-edited stem cell-derived therapies to treat type 1 diabetes (T1D). Today, they may stand … Continue reading First Patient Dosed in Phase 1 Clinical Trial for T1D
Educating and training the next generation of regenerative science workforce
THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Bridges scholars presenting their research posters to CIRM team members and other scientists Regenerative medicine is a diverse and rapidly evolving field, employing core expertise from biologists, engineers, and clinicians. As the field continues to advance, a well-trained regenerative science workforce is needed to apply the … Continue reading Educating and training the next generation of regenerative science workforce
Breaking down barriers: Expanding patient access and accelerating research
THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST 10 years ago I was presented with an incredibly unique opportunity- to become the fifth patient with spinal cord injuries to participate in the world's first clinical trial testing a treatment made from human embryonic stem cells. It was not only a risky and potentially life-changing decision, … Continue reading Breaking down barriers: Expanding patient access and accelerating research
The Stem Cellar 