The Stem Cellar’s Image of the Week. Our favorite image this week, comes to us from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Looking like a psychedelic Rorschach test, the fluorescence microscopy depicts mouse olfactory epithelium (in green), a sheet of tissue that develops in the nose. The team identified a new … Continue reading Stem Cell Roundup: Knowing the nose, stem cell stress and cell fate math.
New Study on Humans Shows Promise for Sepsis Therapy
A new study published in STEM CELLS, conducted by researchers at the University of Amsterdam, shows how mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can restore the health and improve the function of the immune system, which could benefit the treatment of sepsis. Sepsis is a life-threatening complication from an infection that can lead to multiple organ failure. … Continue reading New Study on Humans Shows Promise for Sepsis Therapy
Stem cell summer: high school students document internships via social media, Part 1
My fellow CIRM team members and I just got back from two days in Sacramento where we attended one of our favorite annual events: the CIRM SPARK Student Conference. SPARK, which is short for Summer Program to Accelerate Regenerative medicine Knowledge, is a CIRM-funded education program that offers California High School students an invaluable opportunity … Continue reading Stem cell summer: high school students document internships via social media, Part 1
Blood stem cell expansion expands treatment options for cancer patients
Bone marrow transplants have been used for decades to treat various types of cancers such as leukemia and multiple myeloma, as well as other blood disorders such as anemia. Our bone marrow is responsible for making hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which develop into mature blood cells, like white cells (which fight infection) and red cells … Continue reading Blood stem cell expansion expands treatment options for cancer patients
What makes an expert an expert?
When we launched our Facebook Live “Ask the Expert” series earlier this year we wanted to create an opportunity for people to hear from and question experts about specific diseases or disorders. The experts we turned to were medical ones, neurologists and neuroscientists in the case of the first two Facebook Live events, stroke and … Continue reading What makes an expert an expert?
Stem Cell Roundup: Clinical Trial on the Horizon for Parkinson’s Disease, New Probe Targets Tricky Cancer Cells – Rare Brain Disease May Be Key to Alzheimer’s Insights
Stem Cell Image of the Week: This week's image shows dopamine producing brain cells. These are the cells that are depleted in people with Parkinson's Disease. Parkinson’s disease news: a new clinical trial, a new face of the disease (Kevin McCormack) In his long and illustrious career Alan Alda has worn many hats. First as the … Continue reading Stem Cell Roundup: Clinical Trial on the Horizon for Parkinson’s Disease, New Probe Targets Tricky Cancer Cells – Rare Brain Disease May Be Key to Alzheimer’s Insights
The Five Types of Stem Cells
When I give an “Intro to Stem Cells” presentation to, say, high school students or to a local Rotary Club, I begin by explaining that there are three main types of stem cells: (1) embryonic stem cells (ESCs) (2) adult stem cells and (3) induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Well, like most things in science, … Continue reading The Five Types of Stem Cells
Promising Advances in Alzheimer’s Research Could Create More Advanced Therapy Options
New developments in Alzheimer’s research are bringing us closer to more precise therapies for this debilitating disease. Alzheimer’s disease, is characterized by the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain, which interfere with the normal communication flow between brain cells, leading to debilitating symptoms like memory loss and impaired decision-making. These plaques are made out … Continue reading Promising Advances in Alzheimer’s Research Could Create More Advanced Therapy Options
CIRM-supported study shows promise in fighting acute myeloid leukemia
For years chemotherapy has been a mainstay in the war against cancer. While it can be very effective it can also come with some nasty side effects. Since chemo works by killing rapidly growing cells, it not only hits the cancer cells, but can also hit other rapidly growing cells too, including those in our … Continue reading CIRM-supported study shows promise in fighting acute myeloid leukemia
ALS is in the spotlight in CIRM’s “Ask the Expert About ALS & Stem Cells” Facebook Live event
American Football great Dwight Clark was renowned for having the safest hands in the game when he played for the San Francisco 49ers. But in September 2015 he was diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) after not being able to use those hands to open a package of sugar. Less than three … Continue reading ALS is in the spotlight in CIRM’s “Ask the Expert About ALS & Stem Cells” Facebook Live event
The Stem Cellar 