A $6 million grant to Dr. Matthew Porteus and his team at Stanford University to develop an innovative stem cell-based gene correction therapy for chronic sinusitis in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients. CF is a common genetic disease that currently lacks a cure, causing patients to spend their lives managing symptoms. Despite significant advancements in CF … Continue reading Transformative stem cell-based treatment for Cystic Fibrosis Sinusitis
Stanford University
CIRM awards $25 million for discovery and clinical research, infrastructure programs
Stock image of a researcher The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has recently approved awarding $25 million to fund multiple projects across discovery research, clinical research, and infrastructure programs.This funding will support 11 projects under CIRM's Foundation Awards Program, which aims to drive rigorous studies addressing critical basic knowledge gaps in the biology of … Continue reading CIRM awards $25 million for discovery and clinical research, infrastructure programs
Investing in a stem cell treatment for Hurler syndrome
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) awarded $5,444,353 to Dr. Natalia Gomez-Ospina and her team at Stanford University for a late-stage preclinical program targeting Severe Mucopolysaccharidosis type 1, also known as Hurler syndrome. This is an inherited condition caused by a faulty gene. Children with Hurler syndrome lack an enzyme that the body needs to digest … Continue reading Investing in a stem cell treatment for Hurler syndrome
Making transplants easier for kids, and charting a new approach to fighting solid tumors.
Every year California performs around 100 kidney transplants in children but, on average, around 50 of these patients will have their body reject the transplant. These children then have to undergo regular dialysis while waiting for a new organ. Even the successful transplants require a lifetime of immunosuppression medications. These medications can prevent rejection but … Continue reading Making transplants easier for kids, and charting a new approach to fighting solid tumors.
Study could pave the way in reducing decline in muscle strength as people age
A study by Stanford Medicine researchers in older mice may lead to treatments that help seniors regain muscle strength lost to aging. Muscle stem cells—which are activated in response to muscle injury to regenerate damaged muscle tissue—lose their potency with age. A study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey showed that five percent … Continue reading Study could pave the way in reducing decline in muscle strength as people age
Sweet 16 and counting for stem cell clinical trial
Dr. Judy Shizuru: Photo courtesy Jasper Therapeutics Over the years the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has invested a lot in helping children born with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a fatal immune disorder. And we have seen great results with some researchers reporting a 95 percent success rate in curing these children. Now there’s … Continue reading Sweet 16 and counting for stem cell clinical trial
CIRM Board Approves Funding for New Clinical Trial Targeting Brain Tumors
The governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded almost $12 million to carry out a clinical trial targeting brain tumors. This brings the total number of CIRM funded clinical trials to 83. $11,999,984 was awarded to Dr. Jana Portnow at the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope. They are using Neural stem … Continue reading CIRM Board Approves Funding for New Clinical Trial Targeting Brain Tumors
Chemistry Nobel Prize winner Carolyn Bertozzi had a hand in early stem cell research
Carolyn Bertozzi. Image credit: Andrew Brodhead The 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Carolyn R. Bertozzi of Stanford University, Morten Meldal of the University of Copenhagen, and K. Barry Sharpless of Scripps Research. The three scientists are recognized for their independent development and contributions to the field known as click chemistry and bioorthogonal … Continue reading Chemistry Nobel Prize winner Carolyn Bertozzi had a hand in early stem cell research
Fast Track Designation for a therapy making transplants safer for children with a fatal immune disorder
Bone marrow transplant For children born with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) life can be very challenging. SCID means they have no functioning immune system, so even a simple infection can prove life threatening. Left untreated, children with SCID often die in the first few years of life. There are stem cell/gene therapies funded by the … Continue reading Fast Track Designation for a therapy making transplants safer for children with a fatal immune disorder
The researcher who is following her bliss, and tackling diseases of aging at the same time
Dr. Jill Helms, and associate! Photo courtesy Stanford University Jill Helms is not your average Stanford University faculty member. Yes, she is a professor in the Department of Surgery. Yes, she has published lots of scientific studies. Yes, she is a stem cell scientist (funded by CIRM). And yes, she is playing a leading role … Continue reading The researcher who is following her bliss, and tackling diseases of aging at the same time