Our mission at CIRM is to accelerate stem treatments to patients with unmet medical needs. But what if those needs are not just unmet, they’re also unknown? What happens when those developing treatments never even bother to ask those they are trying to help if this is what they really need, or want? The question … Continue reading How do you know what patients want if you never even ask them?
patient advocates
Rare Disease Day, a chance to raise awareness and hope.
Battling a deadly disease like cancer or Alzheimer’s is difficult; but battling a rare and deadly disease is doubly so. At least with common diseases there is a lot of research seeking to develop new treatments. With rare diseases there is often very little research, and so there are fewer options for treatment. Even just … Continue reading Rare Disease Day, a chance to raise awareness and hope.
A meeting of minds: breaking down communication barriers between patients and doctors
One of the things that has always surprised me about stem cell research, or any scientific research, is that so often the people with most at stake never meet. Researchers spend most of their time in the lab trying to develop new treatments so they don’t often get to meet the people who are depending … Continue reading A meeting of minds: breaking down communication barriers between patients and doctors
A scientific conference we can all enjoy
Scientific conferences are fascinating events. You get a chance to mingle with some of the leading researchers and thinkers in the field, and to learn about the latest advances. But, to be honest, for those of us who don’t have a scientific background, they can also be a little bit intimidating. That’s where the World … Continue reading A scientific conference we can all enjoy
Alzheimer’s Nightmare Spurs Comedy Fundraiser to Help Caregivers – New Video
You could have heard a pin drop in the auditorium. The audience of young stem cell researchers was gripped by every word of Lauren Miller’s heartbreaking story about the impact that Alzheimer’s disease has had on her family. Only a child when her grandfather was diagnosed with and later died of Alzheimer’s, she mistook his symptoms, … Continue reading Alzheimer’s Nightmare Spurs Comedy Fundraiser to Help Caregivers – New Video
Pushing, pulling and dragging stem cell research forward
Government agencies are known for many things, but generally speaking a willingness to do some voluntary, deep self-examination is not one of them. However, for the last few weeks CIRM has been doing a lot of introspection as we develop a new Strategic Plan, a kind of road map for where we are heading. But … Continue reading Pushing, pulling and dragging stem cell research forward
Share your voice, shape our future
There is power in a single voice. I am always reminded of that whenever I meet a patient advocate and hear them talk about the need for treatments and cures – and not just for their particular disease but for everyone. The passion and commitment they display in advocating for more research funding reflects the … Continue reading Share your voice, shape our future
The best tools to be the best advocate
It’s hard to do a good job if you don’t have the right tools. And that doesn’t just apply to fixing things around the house, it applies to all aspects of life. So, in launching our new website this week we didn’t just want to provide visitors to the site with a more enjoyable and … Continue reading The best tools to be the best advocate
Stem Cell Awareness Day and the Stem Cell Person of the Year
Today is Stem Cell Awareness Day, an event that seeks to bring together individuals and organizations around the world working to celebrate and raise awareness about the tremendous progress being made in stem cell research, and to ensure we remain focused on keeping that progress going until we have cures or treatments for people in … Continue reading Stem Cell Awareness Day and the Stem Cell Person of the Year
When Hope Runs up against Reality: Balancing Patient Optimism with Medical Evidence
One of the big concerns among scientists - including many at the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) conference in Vancouver, Canada – is that patient expectations about stem cells are often greater than researchers are able to deliver today. That can result in patients in search of a cure heading to overseas clinics … Continue reading When Hope Runs up against Reality: Balancing Patient Optimism with Medical Evidence
The Stem Cellar 