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
Cell Type
Stem cell stories that caught our eye: Horse patients, Brain cancer stem cells, and a Bony Heart
Horsing around at the World Stem Cell Summit The World Stem Cell Summit (WSCS) is coming up very shortly (December 6-9) in lovely downtown West Palm Beach, Florida. And this year it has an added attraction; horses. For my money the WSCS is the most enjoyable of the many conferences held around the US focusing … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: Horse patients, Brain cancer stem cells, and a Bony Heart
Stem cell agency funds clinical trials in three life-threatening conditions
A year ago the CIRM Board unanimously approved a new Strategic Plan for the stem cell agency. In the plan are some rather ambitious goals, including funding ten new clinical trials in 2016. For much of the last year that has looked very ambitious indeed. But today the Board took a big step towards reaching … Continue reading Stem cell agency funds clinical trials in three life-threatening conditions
Measuring depression with non-invasive imaging of new brain cells
For most of the 20th century, scientists thought you’re basically stuck with the brain cells you’re born with. “Everything may die, nothing may be regenerated”, is how Santiago Ramón y Cajal, the father of modern neuroscience, described nerve cells, aka neurons, in the adult brain. But, over the past few decades, it’s become clear that … Continue reading Measuring depression with non-invasive imaging of new brain cells
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
First spinal cord injury trial patient gets maximum stem cell dose
There comes a pivotal point in every experiment where you say “ok, now we are going to see if this really works.” We may be at that point in the clinical trial we are funding to see if stem cells can help people with spinal cord injuries. Today Asterias Biotherapeutics announced they have given the … Continue reading First spinal cord injury trial patient gets maximum stem cell dose
Discovering stem cells and science at Discovery Day
Someone stole my thigh bone. One minute it was there. The next, gone. I have narrowed down the list of suspects to the more than 25,000 people attending Discovery Day at San Francisco’s AT&T Park. To be honest, the bone was just a laminated image of a bone, stuck to the image of a person … Continue reading Discovering stem cells and science at Discovery Day
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
Three stories give us a glimpse of the real possibilities for stem cell therapies
Today we're featuring a guest blog by Lisa Willemse about the Till and McCulloch Stem Cell Meeting in Canada. Enjoy! Stem cell treatments should be incredibly easy. Or rather, that’s what some clinics or products would have you believe. Because, on the surface, a one-stop-shop for injectable cells to cure just about any condition or topical … Continue reading Three stories give us a glimpse of the real possibilities for stem cell therapies
Deleting a single gene can boost blood stem cell regeneration
A serious side effect that cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy experience is myelosuppression. That’s a big word for a process that involves the decreased production of the body’s immune cells from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) or blood stem cells in the bone marrow. Without these important cells that make up the immune system, patients are at … Continue reading Deleting a single gene can boost blood stem cell regeneration
The Stem Cellar 