This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (yellow)—also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19—isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab. Image Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases-Rocky Mountain Laboratories During this global pandemic, many scientists are pursuing various avenues for … Continue reading Novel clinical trial for COVID-19 using immune cells
Blood stem cells
Breakthrough image could lead to better therapies
Image of a blood stem cell in its natural environment: Photo courtesy UC Merced When it comes to using stem cells for therapy you don’t just need to understand what kinds of cell to use, you also need to understand the environment that is best for them. Trying to get stem cells to grow in … Continue reading Breakthrough image could lead to better therapies
Researchers create a better way to grow blood stem cells
UCLA's Dr. Hanna Mikkola and Vincenzo Calvanese, lead scientists on the study. Photo courtesy UCLA Blood stem cells are a vital part of us. They create all the other kinds of blood cells in our body and are used in bone marrow transplants to help people battling leukemia or other blood cancers. The problem is … Continue reading Researchers create a better way to grow blood stem cells
Boosting the blood system after life-saving therapy
Following radiation, the bone marrow shows nearly complete loss of blood cells in mice (left). Mice treated with the PTP-sigma inhibitor displayed rapid recovery of blood cells (purple, right): Photo Courtesy UCLA Chemotherapy and radiation are two of the front-line weapons in treating cancer. They can be effective, even life-saving, but they can also be … Continue reading Boosting the blood system after life-saving therapy
CIRM Board Approves New Clinical Trial for Rare Childhood Disease
Today the governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) approved a grant of almost $12 million to Dr. Stephanie Cherqui at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) to conduct a clinical trial for treatment of cystinosis. This award brings the total number of CIRM funded clinical trials to 55. Cystinosis is … Continue reading CIRM Board Approves New Clinical Trial for Rare Childhood Disease
Stanford study successful in transplant of mismatched stem cells, tissue in mice
Dr. Irv Weissman at Stanford University A transplant can be a lifesaving procedure for many people across the United States. In fact, according to the Health Resources & Services Administration, 36,528 transplants were performed in 2018. However, as of January 2019, the number of men, women, and children on the national transplant waiting list is … Continue reading Stanford study successful in transplant of mismatched stem cells, tissue in mice
Stanford and University of Tokyo researchers crack the code for blood stem cells
Blood stem cells grown in lab Blood stem cells offer promise for a variety of immune and blood related disorders such as sickle cell disease and leukemia. Like other stem cells, blood stem cells have the ability to generate additional blood stem cells in a process called self-renewal. Additionally, they are able to generate blood … Continue reading Stanford and University of Tokyo researchers crack the code for blood stem cells
How a see-through fish could one day lead to substitutes for bone marrow transplants
Human blood stem cells For years researchers have struggled to create human blood stem cells in the lab. They have done it several times with animal models, but the human kind? Well, that’s proved a bit trickier. Now a CIRM-funded team at UC San Diego (UCSD) think they have cracked the code. And that would … Continue reading How a see-through fish could one day lead to substitutes for bone marrow transplants
CIRM Board Approves Funding for New Clinical Trials in Solid Tumors and Pediatric Disease
Dr. Theodore Nowicki, physician in the division of pediatric hematology/oncology at UCLA. Photo courtesy of Milo Mitchell/UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center The governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) awarded two grants totaling $11.15 million to carry out two new clinical trials. These latest additions bring the total number of CIRM funded … Continue reading CIRM Board Approves Funding for New Clinical Trials in Solid Tumors and Pediatric Disease
Stanford scientist uses CRISPR-Cas9 and stem cells to develop potential “bubble baby” therapy
Dr. Matthew Porteus, professor of pediatrics at Stanford University. Photo courtesy of Stanford Medicine. Our immune system is an important and essential part of everyday life. It is crucial for fighting off colds and, with the help of vaccinations, gives us immunity to potentially lethal diseases. Unfortunately, for some infants, this innate bodily defense mechanism … Continue reading Stanford scientist uses CRISPR-Cas9 and stem cells to develop potential “bubble baby” therapy