Image of the virus that causes AIDS - courtesy NIH If that headline seems familiar it should. It came from an article in MIT Technology Review back in 2009. There have been many other headlines since then, all on the same subject, and yet here we are, in 2020, and still no cure for HIV/AIDS. … Continue reading Scientists Engineer Stem Cells to Fight HIV
Disease Areas
Stem cells used to promote quick and precise bone healing
A close-up view of the intricate microarchitecture of the pluripotent stem-cell-derived extracellular matrix. Image Credit: Carl Gregory/Texas A&M Although some broken bones can be mended with the help of a cast, others require more complex treatments. Bone grafts, which can come from the patient's own body or a donor, are used to transplant bone tissue … Continue reading Stem cells used to promote quick and precise bone healing
Magnetized stem cells used to treat lung disease in mice
Magnetic targeting technique has emerged as a new strategy to aid delivery, increase retention, and enhance the effects of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) but, so far, has not been performed in lung diseases. With the aid of magnets, magnetized MSCs remained longer in the lungs, and this was associated with increased beneficial effects for the … Continue reading Magnetized stem cells used to treat lung disease in mice
Super charging killer cells to fight leukemia
Colorized scanning electron micrograph of a natural killer cell.Photo credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Racing car drivers are forever tinkering with their cars, trying to streamline them and soup up their engines because while fast is good, faster is better. Researchers do the same things with potential anti-cancer therapies, tinkering with them … Continue reading Super charging killer cells to fight leukemia
CIRM Board Approves Two Additional COVID-19 Projects
Dr. Vaithilingaraja Arumugaswami (left) and Dr. Song Li (right), UCLA Today the governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) approved two additional projects as part of the $5 million in emergency funding for COVID-19 related projects. This brings the number of projects CIRM is supporting to 11, including two clinical trials. The Board awarded $349,999 … Continue reading CIRM Board Approves Two Additional COVID-19 Projects
Blocking pancreatic cancer stem cells
John Cashman Cancer stem cells are one of the main reasons why cancers are able to survive surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. They are able to hide from those therapies and, at a future date, emerge and spread the cancer in the body once again. Jionglia Cheng, PhD. Jionglia Cheng, PhD., the lead author of a … Continue reading Blocking pancreatic cancer stem cells
“Mini” human liver made of stem cells successfully transplanted in rats
Miniature liver made from human skin cells turned stem cells turned specialized liver cells Photo Credit: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine According to the American Liver Foundation website, almost 14,000 patients are on the waiting list for a liver transplant. But what if there was a way to generate a liver using your own … Continue reading “Mini” human liver made of stem cells successfully transplanted in rats
Parkinson’s Disease and Stem Cells
Lila Collins, PhD A few weeks ago we held a Facebook Live "Ask the Stem Cell Team About Parkinson's Disease" event. As you can imagine we got lots of questions but, because of time constraints, only had time to answer a few. Thanks to my fabulous CIRM colleagues, Dr. Lila Collins and Dr. Kent Fitzgerald, … Continue reading Parkinson’s Disease and Stem Cells
CIRM Board Expands Efforts of COVID-19 Program
Today the governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) expanded efforts related to the $5 million in emergency funding for the CIRM COVID-19 program. The new guidelines mean that inception discovery projects (DISC1), whose goal is developing new and transformational ideas, will now be eligible for CIRM COVID-19 funding. These projects can … Continue reading CIRM Board Expands Efforts of COVID-19 Program
A Tribute to Huntington’s Disease Warriors in the Age of COVID-19
Frances Saldana is one of the most remarkable women I know. She has lost all three of her children to Huntington's disease (HD) - a nasty, fatal disease that steadily destroys the nerve cells in the brain - but still retains a fighting spirit and a commitment to finding a cure for HD. She is … Continue reading A Tribute to Huntington’s Disease Warriors in the Age of COVID-19
The Stem Cellar 