Could a common herb help in the fight against COVID-19 and other inflammatory diseases?

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST The culinary herb rosemary is commonly used in our kitchens to season an array of dishes, and is also considered a good source for vitamins and minerals.   Rosemary is also valued for its medicinal properties, and has traditionally been used to help alleviate muscle pain, boost the immune and circulatory system, as well as many other health benefits.  Now, scientists at Scripps Research have found … Continue reading Could a common herb help in the fight against COVID-19 and other inflammatory diseases?

Meet the man who is unlocking the secrets of autism and sending mini-brains into space

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Dr. Alysson Muotri, UC San Diego Normally if you meet someone who has a mini-fridge filled with brains, your first thought is to call the police. But when that someone is Dr. Alysson Muotri, a professor at U.C. San Diego, your second thought is “do tell … Continue reading Meet the man who is unlocking the secrets of autism and sending mini-brains into space

CIRM Board gives thumbs up to training and treatment programs

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST CIRM Bridges student discusses her poster presentation At CIRM, the bread and butter of what we do is funding research and hopefully advancing therapies to patients. But the jam, that's our education programs. Helping train the next generation of stem cell and gene therapy scientists is … Continue reading CIRM Board gives thumbs up to training and treatment programs

Two Early-Stage Research Programs Targeting Cartilage Damage Get Funding from Stem Cell Agency

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Darryl D'Lima: Scripps Health Every year millions of Americans suffer damage to their cartilage, either in their knee or other joints, that can eventually lead to osteoarthritis, pain and immobility. Today the governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) approved two projects targeting … Continue reading Two Early-Stage Research Programs Targeting Cartilage Damage Get Funding from Stem Cell Agency

Making stem cell and gene therapies available and affordable for all California patients

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Developing a new therapy: Photo courtesy UCLA There is no benefit in helping create a miraculous new therapy that can cure people and save lives if no one except the super-rich can afford it. That’s why the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has made creating … Continue reading Making stem cell and gene therapies available and affordable for all California patients

Overcoming obstacles and advancing treatments to patients

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST UC Davis GMP Manufacturing facility: Photo courtesy UC Davis When you are trying to do something that has never been done before, there are bound to be challenges to meet and obstacles to overcome. At the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) we are used to … Continue reading Overcoming obstacles and advancing treatments to patients

Sharing ideas and data to advance regenerative medicine

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST If Kindergarten kids can learn to share why can't scientists? When I was a kid, we were always told to share our toys. It was a good way of teaching children the importance of playing nice with the other kids and avoiding conflicts. Those same virtues … Continue reading Sharing ideas and data to advance regenerative medicine

How two California researchers are advancing world class science to develop real life solutions

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST In our recently launched 5-year Strategic Plan, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) profiled two researchers who have leveraged CIRM funding to translate basic biological discoveries into potential real-world solutions for devastating diseases. Dr. Joseph Wu is director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute and the recipient … Continue reading How two California researchers are advancing world class science to develop real life solutions

A CIRM-funded therapy for a deadly blood cancer gets approval for Phase 3 clinical trial

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Michael Wang, MD (right) of the Department of Lymphoma & Myeloma at MD Anderson Cancer Center will lead the Phase 3 clinical Oncternal Therapeutics, Inc. is celebrating an encouraging milestone at the start of the new year following a successful End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA.  Specifically, the FDA agreed on key … Continue reading A CIRM-funded therapy for a deadly blood cancer gets approval for Phase 3 clinical trial

Teaching stem cells to play video games

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Pong video game Back when I was growing up, shortly after the extinction of the dinosaurs, there was a popular video game called Pong. It was, in fact, pretty much the only video game at the time. It was a pretty simple game. You moved a “paddle” … Continue reading Teaching stem cells to play video games