Image Source: Jose Solorio At the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), we believe stem cells have the potential to change lives. Jose Solorio, a Solano Community College student and participant in CIRM’s COMPASS training program, has firsthand experience in witnessing the power of stem cells as a donor. As part of CIRM's COMPASS program, … Continue reading ICYMI – From Undergratuate to Hero: Solano Student’s Life-Saving Bone Marrow Match Begins with One Swab
Bone marrow
Study shows reduction in brain injury after stroke patients were treated with their own stem cells
Illustration showing the mechanism of an ischemic stroke. In an ischemic stroke, blood supply to part of the brain is decreased, leading to dysfunction of that area of the brain. Here, a blood clot is the reason for restricted blood flow. Stroke is the third leading cause of death and serious long-term disability and affects … Continue reading Study shows reduction in brain injury after stroke patients were treated with their own stem cells
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
Fish umbrellas and human bone: protecting blood stem cells from the sun’s UV rays
Most people probably do not question the fact that human blood stem cells – those that give rise to all the cells in our blood – live inside the marrow of our bones, called a stem cell “niche”. But it is pretty odd when you stop to think about it. I mean, it makes sense … Continue reading Fish umbrellas and human bone: protecting blood stem cells from the sun’s UV rays
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
Sonic Hedgehog provides pathway to fight blood cancers
For a lot of people Sonic Hedgehog is a video game. But for stem cell researcher Dr. Catriona Jamieson it is a signaling pathway in the body that offers a way to tackle and defeat some deadly blood cancers. Dr. Jamieson - a researcher at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) - has a … Continue reading Sonic Hedgehog provides pathway to fight blood cancers
Goodnight, Stem Cells: How Well Rested Cells Keep Us Healthy
Plenty of studies show that a lack of sleep is nothing but bad news and can contribute to a whole host of health problems like heart disease, poor memory, high blood pressure and obesity. In a sense, the same holds true for the stem cells in our body. In response to injury, adult stem cells … Continue reading Goodnight, Stem Cells: How Well Rested Cells Keep Us Healthy
Getting the right tools for the right job
Imagine a device that sits outside the body and works like a form of dialysis for a damaged liver, filtering out the toxins and giving the liver a chance to regenerate, and the patient a chance to avoid the need for a transplant. Or imagine a method of enhancing the number of stem cells we … Continue reading Getting the right tools for the right job
Scientists Send Rodents to Space; Test New Therapy to Prevent Bone Loss
In just a few months, 40 very special rodents will embark upon the journey of a lifetime. Today UCLA scientists are announcing the start of a project that will test a new therapy that has the potential to slow, halt or even reverse bone loss due to disease or injury. With grant funding from the … Continue reading Scientists Send Rodents to Space; Test New Therapy to Prevent Bone Loss
UC Davis Surgeons Begin Clinical Trial that Tests New Way to Deliver Stem Cells; Heal Bone Fractures
Each year, approximately 8.9 million people worldwide will suffer a bone fracture. Many of these fractures heal with the help of traditional methods, but for some, the road to recovery is far more difficult. After exhausting traditional treatments—such as surgically implanted pins or plates, bed rest and injections to spur bone growth—these patients can undergo … Continue reading UC Davis Surgeons Begin Clinical Trial that Tests New Way to Deliver Stem Cells; Heal Bone Fractures
The Stem Cellar 