Human embryonic stem cells (nuclei in green). How do you tell which are the best quality? Read on. (credit: Julie Baker, Stanford) One of the exciting aspects of working on the cutting edge of science and technology research is that you get to build the “road” of knowledge as you drive down it. Still, at … Continue reading Paving a smooth road to stem cell therapies: Harvard team develops stem cell quality control index

Each month CIRM President Alan Trounson gives his perspective on recently published papers he thinks will be valuable in moving the field of stem cell research forward. This month’s report, along with an archive of past reports, is available on the CIRM website. This month’s report discusses two different approaches to getting our own cells … Continue reading Guest blogger Alan Trounson — February’s stem cell research highlights

Hibernating bears rely on UCP1 to stay warm. Other UCPs play roles in stem and cancer cells. (source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) For those of you who drive a stick shift, imagine stepping on the clutch and the gas pedal of your car at the same time. What happens? The engine revs and generates … Continue reading Secrets of hibernating bears & stem cells lead to potential path to early cancer detection

Another month, another milestone. In February I took a moment to pat ourselves on the back as the CIRM communications team surpassed 1000 entries in our Stem Cell Research Updates blog. Now, just a few days into March, we’ve topped another social media milestone: half a million views on our YouTube video channel, CIRM TV, … Continue reading Watch out Gangum Style and Miley Cyrus: CIRM’s YouTube stem cell channel tops half a million views.

Heart muscle cell made from reprogrammed skin cells“Six year old Sierra Bingham had the flu.” It’s a simple opening line to a story that quickly takes on a nightmarish twist. It’s about an Oregon family with four children. Because of a hereditary condition two of those children ended up getting heart transplants, and a third … Continue reading Fresh start for hearts – how stem cells could turn the tide against end stage heart failure

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. Stem cells reveal common cause of mental retardation. In science it can be frustrating to know what defect causes a condition, but not know how … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: fragile X syndrome, turning cancer into fat, and Parkinson’s

Over the years we have become used to seeing Hollywood celebrities testifying before Congress, championing a cause dear to their heart. Regardless of what we think of the individual involved, it’s a powerful and effective way to focus attention, particularly the media’s attention, on important issues.Yesterday, comedian, movie star, writer, director and producer Seth Rogen … Continue reading Why a famous comedian told Congress that Alzheimer’s is no laughing matter

Here nerves (red) grow out of neural stem cells, but the current work coaxed other adult brain cells to directly become functioning nerves.Many believe the ultimate solution in regenerative medicine will be inducing the body to mimic the activity of stem cells without having to transplant any cells. Now, a team at the University of … Continue reading Team tricked scar tissue on spinal cord injury into becoming new nerves without stem cell transplant

On Monday evening Friends of the Berkeley Lab hosted Science at the Theater. This ongoing series is a great example of how complex scientific topics can be made accessible to the public, and how the public will turn out to hear about them. Another example is CIRM’s grantee elevator pitch competition.During the Monday event five … Continue reading Dress Codes for Martians: how the Theater of Science can give us glimpses into the future

bone marrow with acute myeloid leukemia (credit: Vashi Donsk; Wikimedia Commons) “So doc, what’s my prognosis?” It’s the question foremost on the minds of people who have been diagnosed with cancer. Yet giving a specific answer to an individual patient can be a challenge for cancer doctors. As the National Cancer Institute states on their … Continue reading The fight is on: predicting cancer outcomes with stem cells for better treatment choices