Robotic engineering, coding, video game design, filmmaking, soccer and swimming: these are just a few of the many activities that are vying for the attention of high school students once school lets out for the summer. But a group of about 50 high schoolers in California have chosen a different path: they will be diving … Continue reading School’s Out! Stem cells are in! High school students start CIRM-funded summer research internships.
Can stem cells help people recovering from a stroke? You asked, and the experts answered
We recently held our first ever Facebook Live event. It was focused on the use of stem cells and recovery from a stroke and featured three great guests: Dr. Gary Steinberg, chief of Neurosurgery at Stanford, Sonia Coontz, a patient of Dr. Steinberg’s, and CIRM’s own Science Officer Dr. Lila Collins. We had an amazing … Continue reading Can stem cells help people recovering from a stroke? You asked, and the experts answered
Friday Stem Cell Roundup: Making Nerves from Blood; New Clues to Treating Parkinson’s
Stanford lab develops method to make nerve cells from blood. Back in 2010, Stanford Professor Marius Wernig and his team devised a method to directly convert skin cells into neurons, a nerve cell. This so-called transdifferentiation technique leapfrogs over the need to first reprogram the skin cells into induced pluripotent stem cells. This breakthrough provided … Continue reading Friday Stem Cell Roundup: Making Nerves from Blood; New Clues to Treating Parkinson’s
Timing is a critical factor in kidney development
Through countless studies, it's clear that genes and environmental factors are important for determining cellular identity. Now, a research team at the University of Southern California (USC) have found that timing is another critical factor in determining cell fate during organ development. In findings published in Development Cell, Dr. Andy McMahon’s group shows that development … Continue reading Timing is a critical factor in kidney development
Study highlights the problem patients have in taking part in clinical trials and one simple way to change that
Let’s face it, when you are feeling crummy all you want to do is be quiet, rest and not have to deal with anyone else. So, it’s not surprising that a new survey of people with primary mitochondrial disease (PMD) found that many were often less than enthusiastic about taking part in a clinical trial. … Continue reading Study highlights the problem patients have in taking part in clinical trials and one simple way to change that
A Cowboys Fan’s Take on The Catch and Dwight Clark’s Passing Due to ALS
I grew up in Dallas in the 80’s. Needless to say, I was a diehard fan of the Dallas Cowboys National Football League (NFL) team and January 10, 1982 will forever be seared into my memory. Late in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys were leading the San Francisco 49ers 27-21 in the conference championship with … Continue reading A Cowboys Fan’s Take on The Catch and Dwight Clark’s Passing Due to ALS
CIRM funded study results in the first ever in utero stem cell transplant to treat alpha thalassemia
Imagine being able to cure a genetic disorder before a baby is even born. Thanks to a CIRM funded study, what would have been a mere dream a couple of years ago has become a reality. Drs. Tippi MacKenzie and Juan Gonzalez Velez of the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) have successfully treated alpha … Continue reading CIRM funded study results in the first ever in utero stem cell transplant to treat alpha thalassemia
Friday Stem Cell Round: Ask the Expert Facebook Live, Old Brain Cells Reveal Insights and Synthetic Development
Stem Cell Photo of the Week: We’re Live on Facebook Live! Our stem cell photo of the week is a screenshot from yesterday’s Facebook Live event: “Ask the Expert: Stem Cells and Stroke”. It was our first foray into Facebook Live and, dare I say, it was a success with over 150 comments and 4,500 … Continue reading Friday Stem Cell Round: Ask the Expert Facebook Live, Old Brain Cells Reveal Insights and Synthetic Development
CCSF’s CIRM Bridges scholars: the future of stem cell research is in good hands
In need of an extra dose of inspiration? You might read a great book or listen to that podcast your friend recommended. You might even take a stroll along the beach. But I can do you one better: go to a conference poster session where young stem cell scientists describe their research. That’s what I … Continue reading CCSF’s CIRM Bridges scholars: the future of stem cell research is in good hands
Making stem cell-derived liver cells to study fatty liver disease
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects approximately 30% of the population, with that number increasing to 75% in obese individuals. Shockingly, the number of cases is expected to increase 21% by the year 2030 in the United States alone. NAFLD refers to a broad range of liver conditions, which are all characterized by abnormally high … Continue reading Making stem cell-derived liver cells to study fatty liver disease
The Stem Cellar 