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
National Institutes of Health
Clinical trials: separating the wheat from the chaff
What do you do when the supposed solution to a problem actually turns out to be a part of the problem? That’s the situation facing people who want to direct patients to scientifically sound clinical trials. Turns out the site many were going to may be directing patients to therapies that are not only not … Continue reading Clinical trials: separating the wheat from the chaff
The Past, the Present, and the Uncertain Future of Stem Cell Research
Ronnie, a boy who was born without a functioning immune system but who is thriving today because of CIRM funded research When CIRM was created in 2004 the field of stem cell research was still very much in its infancy. Fast forward 15 years and it’s moving ahead at a rapid pace, probably faster than … Continue reading The Past, the Present, and the Uncertain Future of Stem Cell Research
200 years later, the search for a cure for Parkinson’s continues
On the surface, actor Michael J. Fox, singer Neil Diamond, civil rights activist Jesse Jackson and Scottish comedian Billy Connolly would appear to have little in common. Except for one thing. They all have Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Their celebrity status has helped raise public awareness about the condition, but studies show that awareness doesn’t amount … Continue reading 200 years later, the search for a cure for Parkinson’s continues
Midwest universities are making important tools to advance stem cell research
Two Midwest universities are making headlines for their contributions to stem cell research. Both are developing important tools to advance this field of study, but in two unique ways. Scientists at the University of Michigan (UM), have compiled an impressive repository of disease-specific stem cell lines. Cell lines are crucial tools for scientists to study … Continue reading Midwest universities are making important tools to advance stem cell research
NIH-scientists are told to stop buying fetal tissue for research, highlighting importance of CIRM’s voter-created independence
The news that President Trump’s administration has told scientists employed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that they can’t buy any new human fetal tissue for research has left many scientists frustrated and worried. The news has also highlighted the reason why voters created CIRM in the first place and the importance of having … Continue reading NIH-scientists are told to stop buying fetal tissue for research, highlighting importance of CIRM’s voter-created independence
California’s Stem Cell Agency Accelerates Treatments to Patients
The following article is an Op Ed that appeared in today's print version of the San Francisco Chronicle Biotechnology was born in California in the 1970s based on the discovery out of one of its universities and California is responsible for an industry that has impacted the lives of billions of people worldwide. In 2004, … Continue reading California’s Stem Cell Agency Accelerates Treatments to Patients
Has Regenerative Medicine Come of Age?
For the past few years the Signals blog site - which offers an insiders’ perspectives on the world of regenerative medicine and stem cell research - has hosted what it calls a "Blog Carnival". This is an event where bloggers from across the stem cell field are invited to submit a piece based on a … Continue reading Has Regenerative Medicine Come of Age?
Overcoming one of the biggest challenges in stem cell research
Imagine you have just designed and built a new car. Everyone loves it. It’s sleek, fast, elegant, has plenty of cup holders. People want to buy it. The only problem is you haven’t built an assembly line to make enough of them to meet demand. Frustrating eh. Overcoming problems in manufacturing is not an issue … Continue reading Overcoming one of the biggest challenges in stem cell research
Turning the corner with the FDA and NIH; CIRM creates new collaborations to advance stem cell research
This blog is part of the Month of CIRM series on the Stem Cellar A lot can change in a couple of years. Just take our relationship with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). When we were putting together our Strategic Plan in 2015 we did a survey of key players and stakeholders at … Continue reading Turning the corner with the FDA and NIH; CIRM creates new collaborations to advance stem cell research