Dr. Justin Ichida, Assistant Professor at USC and lead author of the study Scientists have long tried to repurpose cells in order to potentially treat various types of conditions. This process, called reprogramming, involves changing one type of cell into another, such as a blood cell into a muscle cell or nerve cell. Although the … Continue reading Scientists at USC untangle the mysteries of cellular reprogramming- a method that could be used to treat diseases
cellular reprogramming
CIRM-funded scientists discover a new way to make stem cells using antibodies
Just as learning a new skill takes time to hone, scientific discoveries take time to perfect. Such is the case with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), the Nobel Prize winning technology that reprograms mature adult cells back into a pluripotent stem cell state. iPSCs are a powerful tool because they can develop into any cell … Continue reading CIRM-funded scientists discover a new way to make stem cells using antibodies
New iPS Insights: Cell Damage Enhances Reprogramming
Researchers learn a ton about the biological function of cells by studying them in vitro; that is, outside the body in a petri dish. But inside the body, or in vivo, cells respond to surrounding proteins and other cells that may be missing in an in vitro experiment. Important insights waiting to be revealed can … Continue reading New iPS Insights: Cell Damage Enhances Reprogramming
Double dose of good news: scientists use drugs to turn skin into heart and brain cells
Today the stem cell field got a double dose of good news. Two CIRM-funded studies from the Gladstone Institutes reported successfully reprogramming human skin into heart cells and brain cells in a dish using different cocktails of small molecule drugs. The work was led by Dr. Sheng Ding, a Senior Investigator at the Gladstone Institutes. … Continue reading Double dose of good news: scientists use drugs to turn skin into heart and brain cells
MIT Scientists Recreate Malaria in a Dish to Test Promising Drug Candidates
At the beginning, it feels like the flu: aches, pains and vomiting. But then you begin to experience severe cold and shivering, followed by fever and sweating—a cycle, known as tertian fever, that repeats itself every two days. And that’s when you know: you’ve contracted malaria. But you wouldn’t be alone. According to the World … Continue reading MIT Scientists Recreate Malaria in a Dish to Test Promising Drug Candidates
Stem Cell Stories that Caught our Eye: Skin Cells to Brain Cells in One Fell Swoop, #WeAreResearch Goes Viral, and Genes Helps Stem Cells Fight Disease
Here are some stem cell stories that caught our eye this past week. Some are groundbreaking science, others are of personal interest to us, and still others are just fun. Building a Better Brain Cell. Thanks to advances in stem cell biology, scientists have found ways to turn adult cells, such as skin cells, back … Continue reading Stem Cell Stories that Caught our Eye: Skin Cells to Brain Cells in One Fell Swoop, #WeAreResearch Goes Viral, and Genes Helps Stem Cells Fight Disease
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger: Scientists Work to Create Improved Immune System One Cell at a Time
The human immune system is the body’s best defense against invaders. But even our hardy immune systems can sometimes be outpaced by particularly dangerous bacteria, viruses or other pathogens, or even by cancer. But what if we could give our immune system a boost when it needs it most? Last week scientists at the Salk … Continue reading Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger: Scientists Work to Create Improved Immune System One Cell at a Time
The Stem Cellar 