THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Jan Nolta, PhD, in her lab at UC Davis; Photo courtesy UC Davis Working at CIRM, you get to meet many remarkable people, and Jan Nolta, PhD, certainly falls into that category. Jan is the Director of the Stem Cell Program at UC Davis School of Medicine. She … Continue reading Promoting stem cell therapies, racial justice, and fish breeding
Biotechnology
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
Two Early-Stage Research Programs Targeting Cartilage Damage Get Funding from Stem Cell Agency
THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Darryl D'Lima: Scripps Health Every year millions of Americans suffer damage to their cartilage, either in their knee or other joints, that can eventually lead to osteoarthritis, pain and immobility. Today the governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) approved two projects targeting … Continue reading Two Early-Stage Research Programs Targeting Cartilage Damage Get Funding from Stem Cell Agency
Overcoming obstacles and advancing treatments to patients
THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST UC Davis GMP Manufacturing facility: Photo courtesy UC Davis When you are trying to do something that has never been done before, there are bound to be challenges to meet and obstacles to overcome. At the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) we are used to … Continue reading Overcoming obstacles and advancing treatments to patients
How two California researchers are advancing world class science to develop real life solutions
THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST In our recently launched 5-year Strategic Plan, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) profiled two researchers who have leveraged CIRM funding to translate basic biological discoveries into potential real-world solutions for devastating diseases. Dr. Joseph Wu is director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute and the recipient … Continue reading How two California researchers are advancing world class science to develop real life solutions
Teaching stem cells to play video games
THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Pong video game Back when I was growing up, shortly after the extinction of the dinosaurs, there was a popular video game called Pong. It was, in fact, pretty much the only video game at the time. It was a pretty simple game. You moved a “paddle” … Continue reading Teaching stem cells to play video games
Getting under the skin of people with type 1 diabetes – but in a good way
THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIOCAST As someone with a family history of type 1 diabetes (T1D) I know how devastating the condition can be. I also know how challenging it can be to keep it under control and the consequences of failing to do that. Not maintaining healthy blood sugar levels can … Continue reading Getting under the skin of people with type 1 diabetes – but in a good way
Building embryo-like cells in the lab
Dr. Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz: Photo courtesy Caltech Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have many remarkable properties, not the least of which is their ability to turn into every other kind of cell in our body. But there are limits to what researchers can do with embryonic stem cells. One issue is that there aren’t always hESCs … Continue reading Building embryo-like cells in the lab
Tiny tools for the smallest of tasks, editing genes
YOU CAN LISTEN TO THIS BLOG AS AN AUDIOCAST ON SPOTIFY Developing new tools to edit genes Having the right tools to do a job is important. Try using a large screwdriver to tighten the screws on your glasses and you quickly appreciate that it’s not just the type of tool that’s important, it’s also … Continue reading Tiny tools for the smallest of tasks, editing genes