Dr. Martin Marsala, UC San Diego Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that destroys the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. As a result of ALS, the motor neurons that enable bodily movement and muscle control are harmed, which can make it difficult to move, … Continue reading CIRM supported study of gene silencer blocks ALS degeneration, saves motor function
ALS
Blood-brain barrier chip created with stem cells expands potential for personalized medicine
An Organ-Chip used in the study to create a blood-brain barrier (BBB). The brain is a complex part of the human body that allows for the formation of thoughts and consciousness. In many ways it is the essence of who we are as individuals. Because of its importance, our bodies have developed various layers of … Continue reading Blood-brain barrier chip created with stem cells expands potential for personalized medicine
Stem cell model reveals deeper understanding into ALS resilient neurons
A descriptive illustration of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Courtesy of ALS Foundation website. Understanding the basic biology of how a cell functions can be crucial to better understanding a disease and unlocking a potential treatment approach. Stem cells are unique because they let scientists create a controlled environment of … Continue reading Stem cell model reveals deeper understanding into ALS resilient neurons
Advancing stem cell research in many ways
Speakers at the Alpha Stem Cell Clinics Network Symposium: Photo by Marco Sanchez From the start, CIRM has aimed to advance stem cell research in California. We do this by funding promising work—reflected in our 51 clinical trials—and by bringing top scientists together to solve problems. We have organized conferences and workshops on Parkinson’s disease, … Continue reading Advancing stem cell research in many ways
Organoids revolutionize approach to studying a variety of diseases
Organoids Microscopes limit how well we can study cells. To understand complex processes, we must observe cells in conditions that mimic the body. Organoids have transformed this research. Organoids and "mini-brains" Organoids are three‑dimensional structures grown from stem cells that mimic real organs. Recent studies have used this method to explore a wide range of … Continue reading Organoids revolutionize approach to studying a variety of diseases
Stem Cells make the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic is one of those iconic magazines that everyone knows about but few people read. Which is a shame, because it's been around since 1888 and has helped make generations of readers aware about the world around them. And now, it's shifting gears and helping people know more about the world inside them. That's … Continue reading Stem Cells make the cover of National Geographic
71 for Proposition 71
Proposition 71 is the state ballot initiative that created California's Stem Cell Agency. This month, the Agency reached another milestone when the 71st clinical trial was initiated in the CIRM Alpha Stem Cell Clinics (ASCC) Network. The ASCC Network deploys specialized teams of doctors, nurses and laboratory technicians to conduct stem cell clinical trials at … Continue reading 71 for Proposition 71
California’s Stem Cell Agency Accelerates Treatments to Patients
The following article is an Op Ed that appeared in today's print version of the San Francisco Chronicle Biotechnology was born in California in the 1970s based on the discovery out of one of its universities and California is responsible for an industry that has impacted the lives of billions of people worldwide. In 2004, … Continue reading California’s Stem Cell Agency Accelerates Treatments to Patients
Potential cell therapy for ALS
Imagine being told that you have a condition that gradually causes you to lose the ability to control your body movements, from picking up a pencil to walking to even breathing. Such is the reality for the nearly 6,000 people who are diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) every year, in the United States alone. … Continue reading Potential cell therapy for ALS
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?