ENPP1 is expressed in the region of scarring after injury to the heart. Cardiac muscle shown in red and ENPP1 in green demonstrates expression of ENPP1 in the region of scar formation. | Credit: Arjun Deb Lab/UCLA At the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), we support groundbreaking cardiovascular research from Discovery to Clinical as … Continue reading UCLA researchers exploring ways to prevent heart failure after heart attacks
heart attack
The present and future of regenerative medicine
One of the great pleasures of my job is getting to meet the high school students who take part in our SPARK or Summer Internship to Accelerate Regenerative Medicine Knowledge program. It's a summer internship for high school students where they get to spend a couple of months working in a world class stem cell … Continue reading The present and future of regenerative medicine
Using stem cells and smart machines to warn of heart problems
Despite advances in treatments in recent years heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the US. It accounts for one in three deaths in this country, and many people are not even aware they have a problem until they have a heart attack. One of the early warning signs of danger is a … Continue reading Using stem cells and smart machines to warn of heart problems
CIRM funds clinical trials targeting heart disease, stroke and childhood brain tumors
Gary Steinberg (Jonathan Sprague) Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of death and disability and for people who have experienced either their treatment options are very limited. Current therapies focus on dealing with the immediate impact of the attack, but there is nothing to deal with the longer-term impact. The CIRM … Continue reading CIRM funds clinical trials targeting heart disease, stroke and childhood brain tumors
A new way to evade immune rejection in transplanting cells
Immune fluorescence of HIP cardiomyocytes in a dish; Photo courtesy of UCSF Transplanting cells or an entire organ from one person to another can be lifesaving but it comes with a cost. To avoid the recipient’s body rejecting the cells or organ the patient has to be given powerful immunosuppressive medications. Those medications weaken the … Continue reading A new way to evade immune rejection in transplanting cells
Two voices, one message, watch out for predatory stem cell clinics
Last week two new papers came out echoing each other about the dangers of bogus “therapies” being offered by predatory stem cell clinics and the risks they pose to patients. The first was from the Pew Charitable Trusts entitled: ‘Harms Linked to Unapproved Stem Cell Interventions Highlight Need for Greater FDA Enforcement’ with a subtitle: … Continue reading Two voices, one message, watch out for predatory stem cell clinics
Scientists at UC Davis discover a way to help stem cells repair heart tissue
Researchers Phung Thai (left) and Padmini Sirish were part of a research team seeking stem cell solutions to heart failure care. Image Credit: UC Davis Repairing the permanent damage associated with a heart attack or long-term heart disease has been a challenge that scientists have been trying to tackle for a long time. Heart failure … Continue reading Scientists at UC Davis discover a way to help stem cells repair heart tissue
Of Mice and Men, and Women Too; Stem cell stories you might have missed
Mice brains can teach us a lot Last week’s news headlines were dominated by one big story, the use of a stem cell transplant to effectively cure a person of HIV. But there were other stories that, while not quite as striking, did also highlight how the field is advancing. A new way to boost … Continue reading Of Mice and Men, and Women Too; Stem cell stories you might have missed
Creating a platform to help transplanted stem cells survive after a heart attack
Repairing, even reversing, the damage caused by a heart attack is the Holy Grail of stem cell researchers. For years the Grail seemed out of reach because the cells that researchers transplanted into heart attack patients didn’t stick around long enough to do much good. Now researchers at Stanford may have found a way around … Continue reading Creating a platform to help transplanted stem cells survive after a heart attack
How mice and zebrafish are unlocking clues to repairing damaged hearts
This may be the first time that the Australian pop group the Bee Gees have ever been featured in a blog about stem cell research, but in this case I think it’s appropriate. One of the Bee Gees biggest hits was “How can you mend a broken heart” and while it was a fine song, … Continue reading How mice and zebrafish are unlocking clues to repairing damaged hearts
The Stem Cellar 