Here are some stem cell stories that caught our eye this past week. Some are groundbreaking science, others are of personal interest to us, and still others are just fun. Telomeres and stem cell stability: too much of a good thing Just like those plastic tips at the end of shoelaces (fun fact: they’re called … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: insights into stem cell biology through telomeres, reprogramming and lung disease
iPS Cells
Translating great stem cell ideas into effective therapies
In science, there are a lot of terms that could easily mystify people without a research background; “translational” is not one of them. Translational research simply means to take findings from basic research and advance them into something that is ready to be tested in people in a clinical trial. Yesterday our Governing Board approved … Continue reading Translating great stem cell ideas into effective therapies
Stem cell stories that caught our eye: glowing stem cells and new insights into Zika and SCID
Here are some stem cell stories that caught our eye this past week. Some are groundbreaking science, others are of personal interest to us, and still others are just fun. Glowing stem cells help scientists understand how cells work. (Karen Ring) It’s easy to notice when something is going wrong. It’s a lot harder to … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: glowing stem cells and new insights into Zika and SCID
New iPS Insights: Cell Damage Enhances Reprogramming
Researchers learn a ton about the biological function of cells by studying them in vitro; that is, outside the body in a petri dish. But inside the body, or in vivo, cells respond to surrounding proteins and other cells that may be missing in an in vitro experiment. Important insights waiting to be revealed can … Continue reading New iPS Insights: Cell Damage Enhances Reprogramming
Throwback Thursday: Progress to a Cure for Type 1 Diabetes
Welcome back to our “Throwback Thursday” series on the Stem Cellar. Over the years, we’ve accumulated an arsenal of valuable stem cell stories on our blog. Some of these stories represent crucial advances towards stem cell-based cures for serious diseases and deserve a second look. This week in honor of Diabetes Awareness Month, we are … Continue reading Throwback Thursday: Progress to a Cure for Type 1 Diabetes
Stem cell stories that caught our eye: Amy Schumer’s MS fundraising; healing traumatic brain injury; schizophrenia iPS insights
Amy Schumer and Paul Shaffer raise money for MS. (Karen Ring) Two famous individuals, one a comedian/movie star, the other a well-known musician, have combined forces to raise money for an important cause. Amy Schumer and Paul Shaffer have pledged to raise $2.5 million dollars to help support research into multiple sclerosis (MS). This disease … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: Amy Schumer’s MS fundraising; healing traumatic brain injury; schizophrenia iPS insights
Meeting the scientists who are turning their daughter’s cells into a research tool – one that could change her life forever
There’s nothing like a face-to-face meeting to really get to know someone. And when the life of someone you love is in the hands of that person, then it’s a meeting that comes packed with emotion and importance. Last week Gay and Steve Grossman got to meet the people who are working with their daughter … Continue reading Meeting the scientists who are turning their daughter’s cells into a research tool – one that could change her life forever
How research on a rare disease turned into a faster way to make stem cells
If Forest Gump were a scientist, I’d like to think he would have said his iconic line a little differently. Dr. Gump would have said, “scientific research is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you’re gonna get.” A new CIRM-funded study coming out of the Gladstone Institutes certainly proves this point. … Continue reading How research on a rare disease turned into a faster way to make stem cells
Stem cell stories that caught our eye: Blood stem cells on a diet, Bladder control after spinal cord injuries, new ALS insights
Putting blood stem cells on a diet. (Karen Ring) Scientists from Stanford and the University of Tokyo have figured out a new way to potentially make bone marrow transplants more safe. Published yesterday in the journal Science, the teams discovered that removing an essential amino acid, called valine, from the diets of mice depleted their … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: Blood stem cells on a diet, Bladder control after spinal cord injuries, new ALS insights
Eggciting News: Scientists developed fertilized eggs from mouse stem cells
A really eggciting science story came out early this week that’s received a lot of attention. Scientists in Japan reported in the journal Nature that they’ve generated egg cells from mouse stem cells, and these eggs could be fertilized and developed into living, breathing mice. This is the first time that scientists have reported the … Continue reading Eggciting News: Scientists developed fertilized eggs from mouse stem cells
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