In April of this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced their conclusion that Zika virus causes microcephaly, a birth defect that results in abnormal brain development and a smaller sized head in infants. Rather than a single study being responsible for their conclusion, the CDC argued that “mounting evidence” from multiple … Continue reading UCSD scientists find new clue into how Zika virus impairs brain development
Cell Type
Stem cell stories that caught our eye: two-week old embryos in the lab, gene edited disease model, recipe for bone and cancer milestone
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. Two-week embryos grabbed headlines. I have rarely seen as many online news outlets pick up a basic science story as happened this week with the … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: two-week old embryos in the lab, gene edited disease model, recipe for bone and cancer milestone
On the Hunt for Huntington’s Disease Treatments in the New Millennium
“Over the next five to ten years, we want to make Huntington’s disease an increasingly treatable condition.” This bold and inspiring statement was made by Dr. Ray Dorsey at the inaugural HD-CARE symposium for Huntington’s disease (HD) research held at UC Irvine last month. The event brought together scientists, doctors, patients, family members, and caregivers … Continue reading On the Hunt for Huntington’s Disease Treatments in the New Millennium
An inside look reveals the adult brain prunes its own branches
Did you know that when you’re born, your brain contains around 100 billion nerve cells? This is impressive considering that these nerve cells, also called neurons, are already connected to each other through an intricate, complex neural network that is essential for brain function. Here’s how the brain does it. During development, neural stem cells … Continue reading An inside look reveals the adult brain prunes its own branches
Stem cell stories that caught our eye: Trifecta of nerve news on aging, Parkinson’s and myelin diseases, also expanding cord blood
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. To save nerves, make them slow down. Nerves, like all cells, constantly make protein, but that task uses up a lot of energy and older … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: Trifecta of nerve news on aging, Parkinson’s and myelin diseases, also expanding cord blood
Achilles’ Heel of Brain Cancer Identified in Tumor Stem Cells
Few words strike me with more dread than glioblastoma, the name for a very aggressive, incurable cancer of the brain. Although surgery and chemotherapy can help hold off or reverse a glioblastoma’s growth for a while, almost inevitably the tumor comes back along with a terrible prognosis: an average survival time of 12 to 15 … Continue reading Achilles’ Heel of Brain Cancer Identified in Tumor Stem Cells
UCSF study explains how chronic inflammation impairs blood stem cell function
Inflammation is the immune system’s natural protective response to infection and injury. It involves the activation and mobilization of immune cells that can kill off foreign invaders and help repair damaged tissue. At the heart of the inflammatory response are hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). These are blood stem cells found in the bone marrow that … Continue reading UCSF study explains how chronic inflammation impairs blood stem cell function
Stem cell stories that caught our eye: fashionable stem cells, eliminating HIV, cellular Trojan horse fights cancer
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. Stem cell fashion for a cause. Science and art are not mutually exclusive subjects. I know plenty of scientists who are talented painters or designers. … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: fashionable stem cells, eliminating HIV, cellular Trojan horse fights cancer
Easier, Cheaper Stem Cell-Based Heart Muscle Sets Stage for Large-Scale Drug Development
The great inventions – like the automobile, the Internet or aviation – are marked as important turning points in human history. But it’s usually the additional tinkering that goes on in the ensuing years after the initial invention that makes the technology feasible in terms of cost, reproducibility and mass production. The same holds true … Continue reading Easier, Cheaper Stem Cell-Based Heart Muscle Sets Stage for Large-Scale Drug Development
Scientists tackle aging by stabilizing defective blood stem cells in mice
Aging is an inevitable process that effects every cell, tissue, and organ in your body. You can live longer by maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle, but there is no magic pill that can prevent your body’s natural processes from slowly breaking down and becoming less efficient. As author Chinua Achebe would say, “Things Fall Apart”. … Continue reading Scientists tackle aging by stabilizing defective blood stem cells in mice
The Stem Cellar 