Nothing undermines the credibility of science and scientists more than the retraction a high profile paper. Earlier this year there was a prime example of that when researchers at one of Japan’s most prestigious research institutions, the Riken Center for Developmental Biology in Kobe, had to retract a study that had gathered worldwide attention. The … Continue reading Truth or Consequences: how to spot a liar and what to do once you catch them
Biotechnology
Taking Promising Therapies out of the Lab and into People: Tips from Experts at the World Stem Cell Summit on How to Succeed
Having a great idea for a stem cell therapy is the easy part. Getting it to work in the lab is tougher. But sometimes the toughest part of all is getting it out of the lab and into clinical trials in patients. That’s natural and sensible, after all we need to make sure that something … Continue reading Taking Promising Therapies out of the Lab and into People: Tips from Experts at the World Stem Cell Summit on How to Succeed
Speak Friend and Enter: How Cells Let the Right Travelers through their Doors
For decades, it’s been a molecular mystery that scientists were seemingly unable to solve: how do large molecules pass through the cell and into the nucleus, while others half their size remain stranded outside? But as reported in the latest issue of Nature Nanotechnology, researchers now believe they may have cracked the case. By shedding … Continue reading Speak Friend and Enter: How Cells Let the Right Travelers through their Doors
Spinal cord injury and stem cell research; find out the latest in a Google Hangout
Spinal cord injuries are devastating, leaving the person injured facing a life time of challenges, and placing a huge strain on their family and loved ones who help care for them. The numbers affected are not small. More than a quarter of a million Americans are living with spinal cord injuries and there are more … Continue reading Spinal cord injury and stem cell research; find out the latest in a Google Hangout
Entrepreneurship and Education
Guest author Neil Littman is CIRM's Business Development Officer. CIRM works closely with UCSF on a number of initiatives, from providing funding to academic investigators to jointly hosting events such as the recent CIRM Showcase with J-Labs held at the Mission Bay campus. Beyond our joint initiatives, UCSF also provides many other valuable resources and … Continue reading Entrepreneurship and Education
Ideas and Energy Reveal Surprises at Stem Cell Showcase
Janssen, the company within the pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson responsible for much of its research and development, has a branch in the Bay Area called J Labs. It seeks to foster innovation in all sectors of biomedical research. One piece of that effort brings together innovators for monthly gatherings to exchange ideas and network. … Continue reading Ideas and Energy Reveal Surprises at Stem Cell Showcase
Scientists Develop Stem Cell ‘Special Forces’ in order to Target, Destroy Brain Tumors
Curing someone of cancer is, in theory, a piece of cake: all you have to do is kill the cancer cells while leaving the healthy cells intact. But in practice, this solution is far more difficult. In fact, it remains one of the great unsolved problems in modern oncology: how do you find, target and … Continue reading Scientists Develop Stem Cell ‘Special Forces’ in order to Target, Destroy Brain Tumors
These Are the Cells You’re Looking for: Scientists Devise New Way to Extract Bone-Making Stem Cells from Fat
Buried within our fat tissue are stashes of stem cells—a hidden reservoir of cells that, if given the right cues, can transform into cells that make up bone, cartilage or fat. These cells therefore represent a much-needed store for regenerative therapies that rebuild bone or cartilage lost to disease or injury. The only problem with … Continue reading These Are the Cells You’re Looking for: Scientists Devise New Way to Extract Bone-Making Stem Cells from Fat
See You Next Week: 2014 Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa
Next week marks the fourth annual Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa (SCMOM) Partnering Forum in La Jolla, California and CIRM , one of the main organizers, hopes to see you there. SCMOM is the first and only meeting organized specifically for the regenerative medicine and cell therapy sectors. The meeting’s unique Partnering Forum brings … Continue reading See You Next Week: 2014 Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa
New Cellular Tracking Device Tests Ability of Cell-Based Therapies to Reach Intended Destination
Therapies aimed at replacing damaged cells with a fresh, healthy batch hold immense promise—but there remains one major sticking point: once you have injected new, healthy cells into the patient, how do you track them and how do you ensure they do the job for which they were designed? Unfortunately, there’s no easy solution. The … Continue reading New Cellular Tracking Device Tests Ability of Cell-Based Therapies to Reach Intended Destination
The Stem Cellar 