Discovery Research into the Link Between Air Pollution and Autism

Infographic, provided by Dr. Liption and team, showcasing the link between air pollution and autism spectrum disorder As outlined in Proposition 14, one of the goals of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is to help accelerate discoveries that enhance our understanding of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. As part of this goal, CIRM … Continue reading Discovery Research into the Link Between Air Pollution and Autism

Exploring the Genetic Foundations of Autism and Gene Therapy Treatments

Principal investigator Alex Pollen, PhD, with his co-investigators and team of researchers. As outlined in Proposition 14, one of the goals of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is to help accelerate discoveries that enhance our understanding of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. As part of this goal, CIRM launched the Research using Multidisciplinary, … Continue reading Exploring the Genetic Foundations of Autism and Gene Therapy Treatments

CIRM Funds new UCSD VERGE Center to Better Understand Schizophrenia and Autism

From top left to right: Anne Bang, PhD; Carrie Bearden, PhD; Eugene Yeo, PhD; Jonathan Sebat, PhD Bottom left to right: Alysson Moutri, PhD; Lilia Iakoucheva, PhD; Sébastien Jacquemont; Trey Ideker, PhD  This blog is part of a series highlighting our ReMIND program and the researchers it’s supporting. To explore all features in the series, … Continue reading CIRM Funds new UCSD VERGE Center to Better Understand Schizophrenia and Autism

Meet the man who is unlocking the secrets of autism and sending mini-brains into space

THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Dr. Alysson Muotri, UC San Diego Normally if you meet someone who has a mini-fridge filled with brains, your first thought is to call the police. But when that someone is Dr. Alysson Muotri, a professor at U.C. San Diego, your second thought is “do tell … Continue reading Meet the man who is unlocking the secrets of autism and sending mini-brains into space

Ask the Stem Cell Team About Autism

On March 19th we held a special Facebook Live "Ask the Stem Cell Team About Autism" event. We were fortunate enough to have two great experts - Dr. Alysson Muotri from UC San Diego, and CIRM's own Dr. Kelly Shepard. As always there is a lot of ground to cover in under one hour and … Continue reading Ask the Stem Cell Team About Autism

Why “Ask the Stem Cell Team” Remains Important

These are definitely strange, unusual and challenging times. Every day seems to bring new restrictions on what we can and should do. All, of course, in the name of protecting us and helping us avoid a potentially deadly virus. We all hope this will soon pass but we also know the bigger impact of the … Continue reading Why “Ask the Stem Cell Team” Remains Important

You can bank on CIRM

Way back in 2013, the CIRM Board invested $32 million in a project to create an iPSC Bank. The goal was simple;  to collect tissue samples from people who have different diseases, turn those samples into high quality stem cell lines - the kind known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) - and create a … Continue reading You can bank on CIRM

Ask the Stem Cell Team About Autism

Do an online search for “autism stem cells” and you quickly come up with numerous websites offering stem cell therapies for autism. They offer encouraging phrases like “new and effective approach” and “a real, lasting treatment.” They even include dense scientific videos featuring people like Dr. Arnold Caplan, a professor at Case Western Reserve University … Continue reading Ask the Stem Cell Team About Autism

CIRM supported study finds that a gene associated with autism influences brain stem cells

Dr. Bennett Novitch, UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research CenterImage Credit: UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center In a previous blog post, we discussed new findings in a CIRM supported study at the Salk Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a developmental disorder that comes in broad ranges and primarily affects communication and behavior. This week, … Continue reading CIRM supported study finds that a gene associated with autism influences brain stem cells