James O'Brien, recipient of a stem cell treatment that restored the vision in his right eye At 18 years old, there are several life-changing moments that young people look forward to. For some, it involves graduating from high school, starting college, and being able to cast a vote in an election. For others, this momentous … Continue reading Stem cell treatment restores man’s sight in right eye after 25 years
Clinical Trials
Time and money and advancing stem cell research
The human genome Way back in the 1990’s scientists were hard at work decoding the human genome, trying to map and understand all the genes that make up people. At the time there was a sense of hope, a feeling that once we had decoded the genome, we’d have cures for all sorts of things … Continue reading Time and money and advancing stem cell research
Stem cell progress and promise in fighting leukemia
Computer illustration of a cancerous white blood cell in leukemia. There is nothing you can do to prevent or reduce your risk of leukemia. That’s not a very reassuring statement considering that this year alone almost 62,000 Americans will be diagnosed with leukemia; almost 23,000 will die from the disease. That’s why CIRM is funding … Continue reading Stem cell progress and promise in fighting leukemia
One family’s fight to save their son’s life, and how stem cells made it possible
CIRM's mission is very simple: to accelerate stem cell treatments to patients with unmet medical needs. Anne Klein's son, Everett, was a poster boy for that statement. Born with a fatal immune disorder Everett faced a bleak future. But Anne and husband Brian were not about to give up. The following story is one Anne … Continue reading One family’s fight to save their son’s life, and how stem cells made it possible
CIRM Board Approves New Clinical Trial for Breast Cancer Related Brain Metastases
Dr. Saul Priceman Yesterday the governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) awarded $9.28 million to Dr. Saul Priceman at City of Hope to conduct a clinical trial for the treatment of breast cancer related brain metastases, which are tumors in the brain that have spread from the original site of the … Continue reading CIRM Board Approves New Clinical Trial for Breast Cancer Related Brain Metastases
From bench to bedside: a Q&A with stem cell expert Jan Nolta
At CIRM we are privileged to work with many remarkable people who combine brilliance, compassion and commitment to their search for new therapies to help people in need. One of those who certainly fits that description is UC Davis' Jan Nolta. This week the UC Davis Newsroom posted a great interview with Jan. Rather than … Continue reading From bench to bedside: a Q&A with stem cell expert Jan Nolta
Developing a non-toxic approach to bone-crushing cancers
When cancer spreads to the bone the results can be devastating Battling cancer is always a balancing act. The methods we use – surgery, chemotherapy and radiation - can help remove the tumors but they often come at a price to the patient. In cases where the cancer has spread to the bone the treatments … Continue reading Developing a non-toxic approach to bone-crushing cancers
Regulated, reputable, and reliable – distinguishing legitimate clinical trials from predatory clinics
Here at CIRM, we get calls every day from patients asking us if there are any trials or therapies available to treat their illness or an illness affecting a loved one. Unfortunately, there are some predatory clinics that try to take advantage of this desperation by advertising unproven and unregulated treatments for a wide range … Continue reading Regulated, reputable, and reliable – distinguishing legitimate clinical trials from predatory clinics
Breaking bad news to stem cell researchers
It’s never easy to tell someone that they are too late, that they missed the deadline. It’s particularly hard when you know that the person you are telling that to has spent years working on a project and now needs money to take it to the next level. But in science, as in life, it’s … Continue reading Breaking bad news to stem cell researchers
“A new awakening”: One patient advocate’s fight for her daughters life
We often talk about the important role that patient advocates play in helping advance research. That was demonstrated in a powerful way last week when the CIRM Board approved almost $12 million to fund a clinical trial targeting a rare childhood disorder called cystinosis. The award, to Stephanie Cherqui and her team at UC San … Continue reading “A new awakening”: One patient advocate’s fight for her daughters life
The Stem Cellar 