Expanding CIRM’s Alpha Clinics Network to deliver transformative regenerative medicine treatments 

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Almost every day, we hear new reports from the thousands of regenerative medicine clinical trials globally sponsored by hundreds of companies and academic researchers. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is a leader in this space supporting some of the most advanced cell and gene … Continue reading Expanding CIRM’s Alpha Clinics Network to deliver transformative regenerative medicine treatments 

Recovery from muscle loss injuries hindered by immune cell conflicts

During a game in 2018, Alex Smith suffered a compound fracture that broke both the tibia and fibula in his right leg. The gruesome injury aside, the former 49ers quarterback soon developed life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis — a rare bacterial infection — that resulted in sepsis and required him to undergo 17 surgeries. In a battle to save his … Continue reading Recovery from muscle loss injuries hindered by immune cell conflicts

Reversing hearing loss through regenerative medicine

These images show cellular regeneration, in pink, in a preclinical model of sensorineural hearing loss. The control is on the left and the right has been treated. Image: Hinton AS, Yang-Hood A, Schrader AD, Loose C, Ohlemiller KK, McLean WJ. Most of us know someone affected by hearing loss, but we may not fully realize … Continue reading Reversing hearing loss through regenerative medicine

Making the list of people to follow

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST If you are walking down the street on a dark night, being followed is not necessarily something you want. But if you are online, having someone follow you is almost always a positive thing. And when that person is Dr. Paul Knoepfler it’s most definitely a … Continue reading Making the list of people to follow

UC Davis Health researchers aim to use CAR T cells for HIV cure

Dr. Abedi (right) in the lab at UC Davis Health. He and his team of researchers have launched a study looking to identify a potential cure for HIV. Photo Courtesy of UC Davis Health. Worldwide, almost 38 million people are living with HIV—the virus that can lead to AIDS— and it’s estimated that 75% of … Continue reading UC Davis Health researchers aim to use CAR T cells for HIV cure

Stem cell-derived retinal patch continues to show promising results two years post-implantation

Earlier this year we wrote about the promising results of a phase 1 clinical trial aimed at replacing the deteriorating cells in the retinas of people suffering from age-related macular degeneration- one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide for people over 50. Now there’s even more good news! Highlighted in a news story on … Continue reading Stem cell-derived retinal patch continues to show promising results two years post-implantation

Chance discovery could lead to a treatment for skin ulcers

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Dr. Antoni Ribas in his research lab on the UCLA Campus: Photo courtesy Ann Johansson When UCLA's Dr. Antoni Ribas was researching a potential therapy for melanoma, a form of skin cancer, he stumbled upon something unexpected. That unexpected discovery has now resulted in him getting … Continue reading Chance discovery could lead to a treatment for skin ulcers

Using reengineered human skin cells to treat COVID-19

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Investigators at Cedars-Sinai have identified a potential new therapy for COVID-19: a biologic substance created by reengineered human skin cells.    In the study—co-funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)—scientists found the substance stopped SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, from reproducing itself. The … Continue reading Using reengineered human skin cells to treat COVID-19

Promoting stem cell therapies, racial justice, and fish breeding

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Jan Nolta, PhD, in her lab at UC Davis; Photo courtesy UC Davis Working at CIRM, you get to meet many remarkable people, and Jan Nolta, PhD, certainly falls into that category. Jan is the Director of the Stem Cell Program at UC Davis School of Medicine. She … Continue reading Promoting stem cell therapies, racial justice, and fish breeding

How mRNA and CRISPR-Cas9 could treat muscle atrophy

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Researchers use mRNA to introduce the gene editor CRISPR-Cas9 into human muscle stem cells. These cells fused into multinucleated myotubes following mRNA-mediated CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. A myosin heavy chain is seen in green and the nuclei in blue. Photo: Spuler Lab A team of researchers from … Continue reading How mRNA and CRISPR-Cas9 could treat muscle atrophy