The life of someone with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (LFS) is not a pleasant one. A rare genetic disorder that usually runs in families, this syndrome is characterized by heightened risk of developing cancer—multiple types of cancer—at a very young age. People with LFS, as the syndrome is often called, are especially susceptible to osteosarcoma, a form … Continue reading Stem Cell Scientists Reconstruct Disease in a Dish; Gain Insight into Deadly Form of Bone Cancer
Cancer Cells Mimic Blood Vessels to Colonize the Body’s Farthest Reaches
Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have just uncovered the latest dirty trick in the cancer playbook—one that spurs the cancer cells to spread throughout the body and evade treatment. But importantly, they believe they may have found a way to counter it. Reporting today in the journal Nature, Cold Spring Harbor researchers describe how … Continue reading Cancer Cells Mimic Blood Vessels to Colonize the Body’s Farthest Reaches
Building a Better Needle: CIRM-Funded Invention Gets Cells Into Brain More Safely, Efficiently
If NASA’s billion dollar Mars rovers deployed a bunch of dollar store party balloons to cushion the moment of impact, the mission would fail miserably. Likewise, the many years and millions of dollars spent on developing a stem cell-based therapy could be all for naught if the delivery of those precious cells into patients used … Continue reading Building a Better Needle: CIRM-Funded Invention Gets Cells Into Brain More Safely, Efficiently
Mutation Morphs Mitochondria in Models of Parkinson’s Disease, CIRM-Funded Study Finds
There is no singular cause of Parkinson’s disease, but many—making this disease so difficult to understand and, as a result, treat. But now, researchers at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging have tracked down precisely how a genetic change, or mutation, can lead to a common form of the disease. The results, published last … Continue reading Mutation Morphs Mitochondria in Models of Parkinson’s Disease, CIRM-Funded Study Finds
Stem cell stories that caught our eye; converting bad fat to good, Parkinson’s and X-linked disease
Here are some stem cell stories that caught our eye this past week. Some are groundbreaking science, others are of personal interest to us, and still others are just fun. Which fat for you, white, brown or beige. Those who read up on those pesky fat cells that accumulate in our bodies probably have heard … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye; converting bad fat to good, Parkinson’s and X-linked disease
Breast Cancer Tumors Recruit Immune Cells to the Dark Side
We rely on our immune system to stave off all classes of disease—but what happens when the very system responsible for keeping us healthy turns to the dark side? In new research published today, scientists uncover new evidence that reveals how breast cancer tumors can actually recruit immune cells to spur the spread of disease. … Continue reading Breast Cancer Tumors Recruit Immune Cells to the Dark Side
Stem cell stories that caught our eye; creating bone, turning data into sound, cord blood and path of a stem cell star
Here are some stem cell stories that caught our eye this past week. Some are groundbreaking science, others are of personal interest to us, and still others are just fun. A better ratio of bone to fat. Most of us at any age would prefer a little less fat and older folks, particularly ones plagued … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye; creating bone, turning data into sound, cord blood and path of a stem cell star
March ICOC/Governing Board Meeting Begins Soon
The March ICOC/Governing Board Meeting is beginning this morning at 9am in Berkeley, CA. Agenda details and dial-in instructions can be found on our website. Please watch this space for an update from the meeting. You can also keep up with the latest news by visiting CIRM on Twitter and Facebook.
Why TED Talks are ChildX’s Play
When the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) talks began in 1984 they were intended to be a one-off event. So much for that idea! Today they are a global event, with TED-sponsored conferences held everywhere from Scotland to Tanzania and India. They have also spawned a mini-industry of copycat events. Well, their slogan is “Ideas Worth … Continue reading Why TED Talks are ChildX’s Play
Goodnight, Stem Cells: How Well Rested Cells Keep Us Healthy
Plenty of studies show that a lack of sleep is nothing but bad news and can contribute to a whole host of health problems like heart disease, poor memory, high blood pressure and obesity. In a sense, the same holds true for the stem cells in our body. In response to injury, adult stem cells … Continue reading Goodnight, Stem Cells: How Well Rested Cells Keep Us Healthy
The Stem Cellar 