Summer is almost here and for scientists around the world, that means it’s time to flock to one of the world’s biggest biotech meetings, the BIO International Convention. This year, BIO is hosted in the lovely city of San Francisco. From June 6-9th, over 15,000 biotechnology and pharma leaders, as well as other professionals, academics, … Continue reading Get your BIO on: Sneak Peak of the June 2016 BIO Convention in SF
Patient Advocacy
A Dream made me change my mind. Almost.
Dream Alliance: photo courtesy Daily Telegraph, UK On Friday I was faced with the real possibility that a horse had made an ass out of me. Over the years we have written many articles about the risks of unproven stem cell therapies, treatments that have not yet been shown in clinical trials to be safe … Continue reading A Dream made me change my mind. Almost.
How To Be a CIRM Stem Cell Champion
Patients suffering from incurable diseases don’t have the luxury of being patient. Their lives depend on the speedy development of new therapies. That’s why our mission at CIRM is to accelerate stem cell treatments to patients with unmet medical needs. Through CIRM funding of top-notch stem cell research – some of which is already in … Continue reading How To Be a CIRM Stem Cell Champion
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
Learning about the Potential of Stem Cells? There’s an App for that.
Staying informed about stem cell research is an important but daunting task. With all of the scientific lingo, the hundreds of websites, and the multitude of diseases related to stem cell research, it's a perfect storm of information overload. For our readers who feel swept up in those waves at times (or most of the … Continue reading Learning about the Potential of Stem Cells? There’s an App for that.
A visual guide on using stem cells to treat blindness
Some stories are so sweet or powerful or wonderful - or all three - that they just stick in your mind. About 18 months ago Rosalinda and German Barrero came to talk to the CIRM Board about retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a devastating genetic disease that slowly destroys a person’s vision. Contrary to what everyone expected … Continue reading A visual guide on using stem cells to treat blindness
Two National Parkinson’s Disease Organizations Join Forces
Guest blogger David R. Higgins, PhD, is a Parkinson’s Patient Advocate and a CIRM ICOC board member. Two national Parkinson’s organizations have decided to join forces: The Parkinson’s Action Network (PAN) will be integrated into The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF). Both have served the Parkinson’s community in separate and important ways, but as MJFF CEO … Continue reading Two National Parkinson’s Disease Organizations Join Forces
Patient Advocates find their voice in a different language
Packed house for stem cell conference in Tokyo - Adrienne Shapiro front row, second from right One of the many wonderful things about travel is that it opens up your eyes and mind to the fact that, while there are many ways in which people around the world differ from each other, there are also … Continue reading Patient Advocates find their voice in a different language
How do you know what patients want if you never even ask them?
Our mission at CIRM is to accelerate stem treatments to patients with unmet medical needs. But what if those needs are not just unmet, they’re also unknown? What happens when those developing treatments never even bother to ask those they are trying to help if this is what they really need, or want? The question … Continue reading How do you know what patients want if you never even ask them?
Patients are the Heroes at the CIRM Alpha Stem Cell Clinics Symposium
UCSD’s Catriona Jamieson and patient advocate Sandra Dillon at the CIRM Alpha Clinic Network Symposium Sometimes, when you take a moment to stand back and look at what you have accomplished, you can surprise yourself at how far you have come, and how much you have done in a short space of time. Take the … Continue reading Patients are the Heroes at the CIRM Alpha Stem Cell Clinics Symposium
The Stem Cellar 