Poster for the documentary "Ending Disease" 2020 has been, to say the very least, a difficult and challenging year for all of us. But while the focus of the world has, understandably, been on the coronavirus there was also some really promising advances in stem cell research. Those advances are captured in a great new … Continue reading Inspiring new documentary about stem cell research
Stanford University
CIRM-Funded Project Targeting Sickle Cell Disease Gets Green Light for Clinical Trial
Dr. Matthew Porteus The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Investigational New Drug (IND) permission enabling Graphite Bio to test the investigational, potentially revolutionary gene editing therapy GPH101 developed under the supervision of Matthew Porteus, MD, PhD, in a clinical trial for people with sickle cell disease (SCD). The California Institute for Regenerative … Continue reading CIRM-Funded Project Targeting Sickle Cell Disease Gets Green Light for Clinical Trial
CIRM-funded treatment gets orphan drug and rare pediatric disease designations from FDA
From left to right: Brian Lookofsky , Taylor Lookofsky, and Rosa Bacchetta, M.D. Picture taken October 2019 Last year, CIRM awarded $5.53 million to Rosa Bacchetta, M.D. at Stanford University to complete the work necessary to conduct a clinical trial for IPEX syndrome. This is a rare disease caused by mutations in the FOXP3 gene, which leaves people … Continue reading CIRM-funded treatment gets orphan drug and rare pediatric disease designations from FDA
Cures, clinical trials and unmet medical needs
When you have a great story to tell there’s no shame in repeating it as often as you can. After all, not everyone gets to hear first time around. Or second or third time. So that’s why we wanted to give you another opportunity to tune into some of the great presentations and discussions at … Continue reading Cures, clinical trials and unmet medical needs
Exploring tough questions, looking for answers
COVID-19 and social and racial injustice are two of the biggest challenges facing the US right now. This Thursday, October 8th, we are holding a conversation that explores finding answers to both. The CIRM Alpha Stem Cell Clinic Network Symposium is going to feature presentations about advances in stem cell and regenerative research, highlighting treatments … Continue reading Exploring tough questions, looking for answers
CIRM Bridges program prepared student for research of a rare disease
Ian Blong, Ph.D., CIRM San Francisco State University Bridges to Stem Cell Research Alumnus Recently, The New York Times released a powerful article that tells the stories of four different families navigating the challenges of having a family member with a rare disease. One of these stories focused on Matt Wilsey, a tech entrepreneur and … Continue reading CIRM Bridges program prepared student for research of a rare disease
Explaining COVID can be a pitch
When people ask me what I do at CIRM I sometimes half-jokingly tell them that I’m the official translator: I take complex science and turn it into everyday English. That’s important. The taxpayers of California have a right to know how their money is being spent and how it might benefit them. But that message … Continue reading Explaining COVID can be a pitch
Stanford scientists link problems in nerve cells to schizophrenia
A spherical cluster of hundreds of thousands of brain cells cultured in a lab dish. A team of researchers studied such neuronal clusters to better understand schizophrenia.Image Credit: Pasca lab The neurological origins of mental illness continue to remain a mystery and along with it any potential treatments for these conditions. However, Dr. Sergiu Pasca … Continue reading Stanford scientists link problems in nerve cells to schizophrenia
It’s all about the patients
Ronnie, born with a fatal immune disorder now leading a normal life thanks to a CIRM-funded stem cell/gene therapy: Photo courtesy of his mum Upasana Whenever you are designing something new you always have to keep in mind who the end user is. You can make something that works perfectly fine for you, but if … Continue reading It’s all about the patients
CIRM-funded treatment for cancer granted FDA breakthrough therapy designation
Mark Chao, M.D., Ph.D., cofounder of Forty Seven, Inc. and current VP of oncology clinical research at Gilead Sciences An antibody therapeutic, magrolimab, being tested for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a group of cancers in which the bone marrow does not produce enough healthy blood cells , was granted breakthrough therapy designation with the Food and Drug Administration … Continue reading CIRM-funded treatment for cancer granted FDA breakthrough therapy designation
The Stem Cellar 