Sometimes you read about a new study where the researchers did something that just leaves you gob smacked. That’s how I felt when I read a study in the journal Cell Stem Cell about a possible new approach to helping people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). More on the gob smacking later. But first the reason … Continue reading Creating an on-off switch to test stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s Disease
Cell Type
Exploring tough questions, looking for answers
COVID-19 and social and racial injustice are two of the biggest challenges facing the US right now. This Thursday, October 8th, we are holding a conversation that explores finding answers to both. The CIRM Alpha Stem Cell Clinic Network Symposium is going to feature presentations about advances in stem cell and regenerative research, highlighting treatments … Continue reading Exploring tough questions, looking for answers
Remembering a stem cell pioneer in the fight against HIV/AIDS
Timothy Ray Brown. Photo courtesy Seattle Times Timothy Ray Brown, a man who was the first person to be cured of HIV, giving hope to millions of people around the world, died at his home in Palm Springs this week. He was just 54 years old. For years Brown was known simply as “the Berlin … Continue reading Remembering a stem cell pioneer in the fight against HIV/AIDS
CIRM Bridges program prepared student for research of a rare disease
Ian Blong, Ph.D., CIRM San Francisco State University Bridges to Stem Cell Research Alumnus Recently, The New York Times released a powerful article that tells the stories of four different families navigating the challenges of having a family member with a rare disease. One of these stories focused on Matt Wilsey, a tech entrepreneur and … Continue reading CIRM Bridges program prepared student for research of a rare disease
Explaining COVID can be a pitch
When people ask me what I do at CIRM I sometimes half-jokingly tell them that I’m the official translator: I take complex science and turn it into everyday English. That’s important. The taxpayers of California have a right to know how their money is being spent and how it might benefit them. But that message … Continue reading Explaining COVID can be a pitch
Stanford scientists link problems in nerve cells to schizophrenia
A spherical cluster of hundreds of thousands of brain cells cultured in a lab dish. A team of researchers studied such neuronal clusters to better understand schizophrenia.Image Credit: Pasca lab The neurological origins of mental illness continue to remain a mystery and along with it any potential treatments for these conditions. However, Dr. Sergiu Pasca … Continue reading Stanford scientists link problems in nerve cells to schizophrenia
It’s all about the patients
Ronnie, born with a fatal immune disorder now leading a normal life thanks to a CIRM-funded stem cell/gene therapy: Photo courtesy of his mum Upasana Whenever you are designing something new you always have to keep in mind who the end user is. You can make something that works perfectly fine for you, but if … Continue reading It’s all about the patients
Scientists create “drug-like” chemical that may inhibit pancreatic cancer stem cells
John R. Cashman, Ph.D. Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death this past week after battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer is a grim reminder of how aggressive the disease can be. In fact, pancreatic cancer will soon be the second leading cause of cancer-related death for individuals in the United States. Unfortunately, it is known … Continue reading Scientists create “drug-like” chemical that may inhibit pancreatic cancer stem cells
CIRM-funded kidney transplant procedure eyeing faster approval
Kidney transplant surgery. Medeor Therapeutics, which is running a CIRM-funded clinical trial to help people getting kidney transplants, just got some really good news. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just granted their product Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation. That’s a big deal because it means they may be able to apply … Continue reading CIRM-funded kidney transplant procedure eyeing faster approval
Scientists develop faster, smarter way to classify tumors using single-cell technology
Dr. Stephen Lin, CIRM Senior Science Officer By Dr. Stephen Lin Single-cell. It is the new buzzword in biology. Single-cell biology refers to the in-depth characterization of individual cells in an organ or similar microenvironment. Every organ, like the brain or heart, is composed of thousands to millions of cells. Single-cell biology breaks those organs … Continue reading Scientists develop faster, smarter way to classify tumors using single-cell technology
The Stem Cellar 