Stem cell-based gut-on-a-chip: a new path to personalized medicine

“Personalized medicine” is a trendy phrase these days, frequently used in TV ads for hospitals, newspaper articles about medicine’s future and even here in the Stem Cellar. The basic gist is that by analyzing a patient’s unique biology, a physician can use disease treatments that are most likely to work in that individual. This concept … Continue reading Stem cell-based gut-on-a-chip: a new path to personalized medicine

A Noble pursuit; finding the best science to help the most people

Mark Noble, Ph.D., is a pioneer in stem cell research and the Director of the University of Rochester Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute in New York. He is also a member of CIRM’s Grants Working Group (GWG), the panel of independent scientific experts we use to review research applications for funding and decide which … Continue reading A Noble pursuit; finding the best science to help the most people

Seeing is believing. Proof a CIRM-funded therapy is making a difference

You have almost certainly never heard of Thelma, or met her, or know anything about her. She’s a lady living in England who, if it wasn’t for a CIRM-funded therapy, might not be living at all. She’s proof that what we do, is helping people. Thelma is featured in a video about a treatment for … Continue reading Seeing is believing. Proof a CIRM-funded therapy is making a difference

A Tribute to Stem Cells on Valentine’s Day

In case you forgot, today is Valentine’s Day. Whether you love, hate, or could care less about this day, you do have one thing in common with our other readers – you’re a fan of stem cells. (If you’re not, then why are you reading this blog??) As a tribute to how awesome and important … Continue reading A Tribute to Stem Cells on Valentine’s Day

In a stem cell first, functioning human kidney structures grown in living animals

One of the ultimate quests in the stem cell field – growing organs to repair diseased or damaged ones – took a significant step forward this week. In a first, researchers at the University of Manchester, in the U.K., showed that human embryonic stem cell-derived kidney tissue forms into functional kidney structures, capable of filtering … Continue reading In a stem cell first, functioning human kidney structures grown in living animals

California gets first royalty check from Stem Cell Agency investments

CIRM recently shared in a little piece of history. The first royalty check, based on CIRM’s investment in stem cell research, was sent to the California State Treasurer’s office from City of Hope. It’s the first of what we hope will be many such checks, helping repay, not just the investment the state made in … Continue reading California gets first royalty check from Stem Cell Agency investments

Stem Cell Roundup: New infertility tools, helping the 3 blind mice hear and cow ESCs

Cool Stem Cell Image of the Week This week’s Cool Stem Cell Image of the Week comes to us from the lab of reproductive biologist Evelyn Telfer at the University of Edinburgh. Telfer and her team successfully grew human eggs cells from immature ovarian tissue. This technology could revolutionize the way doctors approach infertility. For … Continue reading Stem Cell Roundup: New infertility tools, helping the 3 blind mice hear and cow ESCs

Novel approach to slowing deadly brain cancer stem cells may lead to new treatments

Glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, is one of the most dreaded cancer diagnoses. Standard radiation and chemotherapy treatments for glioblastoma almost always prove ineffective because of the cancer’s ability to grow back. With their unlimited potential to self-renew, cancer stem cells within the brain tumor are thought to be responsible for its aggressive reoccurrence. … Continue reading Novel approach to slowing deadly brain cancer stem cells may lead to new treatments

Creating a platform to help transplanted stem cells survive after a heart attack

Repairing, even reversing, the damage caused by a heart attack is the Holy Grail of stem cell researchers. For years the Grail seemed out of reach because the cells that researchers transplanted into heart attack patients didn’t stick around long enough to do much good. Now researchers at Stanford may have found a way around … Continue reading Creating a platform to help transplanted stem cells survive after a heart attack

New Insights into Adult Neurogenesis

To be a successful scientist, you have to expect the unexpected. No biological process or disease mechanism is ever that simple when you peel off its outer layers. Overtime, results that prove a long-believed theory can be overturned by new results that suggest an alternate theory. UCSF scientist Arturo Alvarez-Buylla is well versed with the … Continue reading New Insights into Adult Neurogenesis