Every molecule in the body has a job to do—everything from maintaining healthy cell functions to removing dead or decaying cells requires a coordinated series of molecular switches to complete. There’s a lot we know about what these molecules do, but even more that we are still discovering. And as reported in a pair of … Continue reading Multitasking molecule repairs damaged nerve cells, scientists discover in ‘stunning’ research breakthrough
Scientists identify gene that causes good protein to turn bad
There exists a protein that, most of the time, helps keep the growth of cancer cells in check. But every so often it does the opposite—with potentially deadly consequences. But now, researchers have discovered precisely why this protein, known as TGF-beta, can perform such an abrupt about-face. The results, published today in the journal Science … Continue reading Scientists identify gene that causes good protein to turn bad
CIRM-funded scientists track the steps that take an adult cell back in time
The ability to transform an adult cell back into a stem cell has been heralded as one of the greatest achievements of the 21st century. Scientists have lauded this discovery, made by Nobel Prize-winning scientist Shinya Yamanaka, as a game changer for the future of medicine. Despite this extraordinary advance, the method remains inefficient. And … Continue reading CIRM-funded scientists track the steps that take an adult cell back in time
CIRM 2.0: A New Year, a new start, a new way to advance research
It’s tradition to begin the New Year by making a resolution. Wikipedia has a wonderful description of what this involves saying it is where “a person makes a promise to do an act of self-improvement or something slightly nice, such as opening doors for people beginning from New Year’s Day.” Well, by that criteria, CIRM … Continue reading CIRM 2.0: A New Year, a new start, a new way to advance research
Peering inside the brain: how stem cells could help turn skin into therapies for dementia
To truly understand a disease you need to be able to see how it works, how it causes our body to act in ways that it shouldn’t. In cancer, for example, you can take cells from a tumor and observe them under a microscope to see what is going on. But with diseases of the … Continue reading Peering inside the brain: how stem cells could help turn skin into therapies for dementia
How stem cells made the list of scientific breakthroughs of 2014 (twice actually)
This is the time of year when everyone puts out their lists of the best and worst of the last 12 months. The best movies (”Guardians of the Galaxy”, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”) the worst movies (“Guardians of the Galaxy”, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” – it’s all a matter of taste really) the best music … Continue reading How stem cells made the list of scientific breakthroughs of 2014 (twice actually)
A look at 2014: some of the lowlights of stem cell research this past year
It’s been quite a year in stem cell research. Here at the stem cell agency eight projects that we are funding have been approved for clinical trials and several more hope to get approval in early 2015. And Dr. Don Kohn and his team at UCLA announced that they have effectively cured Severe Combined Immunodeficiency … Continue reading A look at 2014: some of the lowlights of stem cell research this past year
A Christmas miracle or untested therapy? Why even feel-good stem cell stories need to be checked for accuracy
We’ve written several pieces over the last couple of years about the trend for professional athletes to turn to untested and/or unproven stem cell therapies to help them bounce back from injuries. This week, however, came news of something a little more worrying. Ice hockey legend Gordie Howe was given stem cells to help him … Continue reading A Christmas miracle or untested therapy? Why even feel-good stem cell stories need to be checked for accuracy
Stem Cell Stories that Caught Your Eye: The Most Popular Stem Cellar Stories of 2014
2014 marked an extraordinary year for regenerative medicine and for CIRM. We welcomed a new president, several of our research programs have moved into clinical trials—and our goal of accelerating treatments for patients in need is within our grasp. As we look back we’d like to revisit The Stem Cellar’s ten most popular stories of … Continue reading Stem Cell Stories that Caught Your Eye: The Most Popular Stem Cellar Stories of 2014
Stem cell stories that caught our eye: two new approaches to treating diabetes and a video on why this work excites
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. Insulin producing cells avoid immune rejection. The phrase, there is more than one way to skin a cat often applies to the science of trying … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: two new approaches to treating diabetes and a video on why this work excites
The Stem Cellar 