Image courtesy of Epilepsy.com A new therapeutic approach, supported by CIRM, that blocks brain signals that can cause epilepsy has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical trials. More on epilepsy Nearly 3.5 million Americans suffer from some form of epilepsy. It can affect people in different ways, from stiff … Continue reading Promising new approach to treat epilepsy
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Reprogramming brain cells to restore vision after a stroke
Researchers Explore Gene Therapy to Restore Vision After Stroke About one-third of stroke survivors experience some degree of vision loss. For many patients, the condition can be life-changing. Vision often does not fully recover, and few effective treatment options exist. New research from teams at Purdue University and Jinan University offers hope that gene therapy … Continue reading Reprogramming brain cells to restore vision after a stroke
Paving the way for a treatment for dementia
What happens in a stroke When someone has a stroke, the blood flow to the brain is blocked. This kills some nerve cells and injures others. The damaged nerve cells are unable to communicate with other cells, which often results in people having impaired speech or movement. While ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes affect large blood … Continue reading Paving the way for a treatment for dementia
Study shows connection between bipolar disorder and neuroinflammation
Astrocytes, which provide structural support and protection for neurons and also supply them with nutrients and oxygen. Bipolar disorder (BPD) is a mental disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, concentration, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. In the United States, recent research has shown that 1.6% of the population … Continue reading Study shows connection between bipolar disorder and neuroinflammation
CIRM funded researchers discover link between Alzheimer’s gene and COVID-19
Dr. Yanhong Shi (left) and Dr. Vaithilingaraja Arumugaswami (right) All this month we are using our blog and social media to highlight a new chapter in CIRM’s life, thanks to the voters approving Proposition 14. We are looking back at what we have done since we were created in 2004, and also looking forward to the … Continue reading CIRM funded researchers discover link between Alzheimer’s gene and COVID-19
Creating an on-off switch to test stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s Disease
Sometimes you read about a new study where the researchers did something that just leaves you gob smacked. That’s how I felt when I read a study in the journal Cell Stem Cell about a possible new approach to helping people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). More on the gob smacking later. But first the reason … Continue reading Creating an on-off switch to test stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s Disease
CIRM-funded clinical trial testing a new approach to treat Parkinson’s disease
Dr. Krystof Bankiewicz Brain Neurotherapy Bio, Inc. (BNB) announced the treatment of the first patient in clinical trial testing a new approach to treat Parkinson's using MRI-guided neurosurgery to inject gene therapy into damaged regions of the brain. This CIRM‑funded trial, led by Dr. Krystof Bankiewicz, is one of 64 clinical trials supported by the … Continue reading CIRM-funded clinical trial testing a new approach to treat Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s Disease and Stem Cells
Lila Collins, PhD A few weeks ago we held a Facebook Live "Ask the Stem Cell Team About Parkinson's Disease" event. As you can imagine we got lots of questions but, because of time constraints, only had time to answer a few. Thanks to my fabulous CIRM colleagues, Dr. Lila Collins and Dr. Kent Fitzgerald, … Continue reading Parkinson’s Disease and Stem Cells
Stem Cells for Parkinson’s Disease
While the world has been turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic, the virus poses an increased threat to people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Having a compromised immune system, particularly involving the lungs, means people with PD are at higher risk of some of the more dangerous complications of COVID-19. So, this seems like an … Continue reading Stem Cells for Parkinson’s Disease
CIRM-funded Stanford study finds potential diagnostic tool, treatment for Parkinson’s
Dr. Xinnan Wang, a neurosurgeon and author of a study that has identified a molecular pathway apparently responsible for the death of dopaminergic neurons that causes the symptoms of Parkinson's. Of the various neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson's is the second most common and affects 35 million people world wide. It is caused by the gradual breakdown of … Continue reading CIRM-funded Stanford study finds potential diagnostic tool, treatment for Parkinson’s