Dr. Paul Szabolcs: Photo courtesy of UPMC A simple blood stem cell transplant is showing tremendous promise in treating a wide range of metabolic, blood and immune disorders such as thalassemia and some leukodystrophies. These are considered rare diseases – meaning there are fewer than 200,000 people with them in the US – so there … Continue reading Cord blood transplants help children fighting deadly diseases
Researchers 3D print a heart pump using stem cells
This image used on the cover of the American Heart Association’s Circulation Research journal is a 3D rendering of the printed heart pump developed at the University of Minnesota. The discovery could have major implications for studying heart disease. Credit: Kupfer, Lin, et al., University of Minnesota According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart … Continue reading Researchers 3D print a heart pump using stem cells
Lab-grown human sperm cells could unlock treatments for infertility
Dr. Miles Wilkinson: Photo courtesy UCSD Out of 100 couples in the US, around 12 or 13 will have trouble starting a family. In one third of those cases the problem is male infertility (one third is female infertility and the other third is a combination of factors). In the past treatment options for men … Continue reading Lab-grown human sperm cells could unlock treatments for infertility
CIRM Board Approves Two Discovery Research Projects for COVID-19
Dr. Steven Dowdy (left), Dr. Evan Snyder (center), and Dr. John Zaia (right) This past Friday the governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) approved two additional discovery research projects as part of the $5 million in emergency funding for COVID-19 related projects. This brings the number of COVID-19 projects CIRM is supporting to … Continue reading CIRM Board Approves Two Discovery Research Projects for COVID-19
Four teaspoons could save a life
Sometimes it’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference. In the case of a clinical trial that CIRM is funding, all it takes to be part of it is four teaspoons of blood. The clinical trial is being run by Dr. John Zaia and his team at the City of Hope in Duarte, near … Continue reading Four teaspoons could save a life
Stem cells used to look at how COVID-19 attacks heart muscle
Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (heart cells) shown in green and blue, are infected by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (red). Image provided by Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute. There is still a lot that we don't understand about SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), the new coronavirus that has caused a worldwide pandemic. Some patients that … Continue reading Stem cells used to look at how COVID-19 attacks heart muscle
CIRM Highlights Industrial Alliance Program (IAP)
In the addition to the innovative scientists and clinicians who conceive and develop novel experimental therapies, it takes a village to drive a promising experimental therapy through phases of clinical trials, regulatory marketing approval, and commercialization before it becomes broadly accessible to patients with unmet medical needs. In this case, the village is the broader … Continue reading CIRM Highlights Industrial Alliance Program (IAP)
Saying farewell to an old friend
There are some people who, when you think of them, always bring a smile to your face. Dr. Bert Lubin was one of those people. Sadly, we lost Bert to brain cancer two days ago. But the impact he had, not just as an advocate for stem cell research but as a pioneer in sickle … Continue reading Saying farewell to an old friend
You never forget your first
Jake Javier: Photo Michael Clemens "Sees the Day" Photography Now that we have 64 clinical trials that we have funded (plus a few dozen more where we supported the early stage research) it’s sometimes hard to remember the details of each trial. But there is one you never forget. The very first clinical trial you … Continue reading You never forget your first
CIRM Board Approves Third Clinical Trial for COVID-19
Dr. Xiaokui Zhang (left), Dr. Albert Wong (center), and Dr. Preet Chaudhary (right) Today the governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) awarded $750,000 to Dr. Xiaokui Zhang at Celularity to conduct a clinical trial for the treatment of COVID-19. This brings the total number of CIRM clinical trials to 64, including … Continue reading CIRM Board Approves Third Clinical Trial for COVID-19
The Stem Cellar 