CIRM Board approves first program eligible for co-funding under the agreement Adrienne Shapiro, co-founder of Axis Advocacy, with her daughter Marissa Cors, who has Sickle Cell Disease. Sickle Cell disease (SCD) is a painful, life-threatening blood disorder that affects around 100,000 people, mostly African Americans, in the US. Even with optimal medical care, SCD shortens … Continue reading CIRM & NHLBI Create Landmark Agreement on Curing Sickle Cell Disease
Author: Yimy Villa
From organs to muscle tissue: how stem cells are being used in 3D
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges-Pierre Seurat When most people think of stem cells, they might conjure up an image of small dots under a microscope. It is hard to imagine these small specs being applied to three-dimensional structures. But like a pointillism painting, such as A Sunday Afternoon … Continue reading From organs to muscle tissue: how stem cells are being used in 3D
Muscle stem cells provide insight into treatment of muscular dystrophies and aging muscles
Dr. Alessandra Sacco, associate professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys. Muscles are a vital part of the body that enable us to walk, run, lift, and do everyday activities. When muscles start to deteriorate, we start to have difficulty performing these activities, which severely limits quality of life and … Continue reading Muscle stem cells provide insight into treatment of muscular dystrophies and aging muscles
Stanford scientist uses CRISPR-Cas9 and stem cells to develop potential “bubble baby” therapy
Dr. Matthew Porteus, professor of pediatrics at Stanford University. Photo courtesy of Stanford Medicine. Our immune system is an important and essential part of everyday life. It is crucial for fighting off colds and, with the help of vaccinations, gives us immunity to potentially lethal diseases. Unfortunately, for some infants, this innate bodily defense mechanism … Continue reading Stanford scientist uses CRISPR-Cas9 and stem cells to develop potential “bubble baby” therapy
First patient treated for colon cancer using reprogrammed adult cells
Dr. Sandip Patel (left) and Dr. Dan Kaufman (center) of UC San Diego School of Medicine enjoy a light-hearted moment before Derek Ruff (right) receives the first treatment for cancer using human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Photo courtesy of UC San Diego Health. For patients battling cancer for the first time, it can be quite … Continue reading First patient treated for colon cancer using reprogrammed adult cells
CRISPR-Cas9 101: an overview and the role it plays in developing therapies
Illustration courtesy of TED website There has been a lot of conversation surrounding CRISPR-Cas9 in these recent months as well as many sensational news stories. Some of these stories highlight the promise this technology holds, while others emphasize a word of caution. But what exactly does this technology do and how does it work? Here … Continue reading CRISPR-Cas9 101: an overview and the role it plays in developing therapies
Old cells need not apply: how a stem cell’s age can impact potential treatments
Getting older is a normal, at times existential, part of life. The outward changes are abundant and noticeable: thinning of the hair, greying of the hair, and added lines to the face. There are also changes that happen that are not so abundantly clear in terms of outward appearance: slowing of healing time for bone … Continue reading Old cells need not apply: how a stem cell’s age can impact potential treatments
Organoids revolutionize approach to studying a variety of diseases
Organoids There are limitations to studying cells under a microscope. To understand some of the more complex processes, it is critical to see how these cells behave in an environment that is similar to conditions in the body. The production of organoids has revolutionized this approach. Organoids are three-dimensional structures derived from stem cells that … Continue reading Organoids revolutionize approach to studying a variety of diseases
Stem Cell Agency Awards Almost $4 Million to Develop a Treatment for Spinal Degeneration
Today the governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) awarded $3.9 million to Ankasa Regenerative Therapeutics for a promising approach to treat a degenerative condition that can cause chronic, progressive back pain. As we get older, the bones, joints and ligaments in our back become weak and less able to hold the … Continue reading Stem Cell Agency Awards Almost $4 Million to Develop a Treatment for Spinal Degeneration
Newly developed biosensor can target leukemic stem cells
Dr. Michael Milyavsky (left) and his research student Muhammad Yassin (right). Image courtesy of Tel Aviv University. Every three minutes, one person in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer, which amounts to over 175,000 people every year. Every nine minutes, one person in the United States dies from a blood cancer, which … Continue reading Newly developed biosensor can target leukemic stem cells
The Stem Cellar 