Gene editing in blood stem cells just got easier

Genome editing is a field of science that’s been around for awhile, but has experienced an explosion of activity and interest in recent years. Chances are that even your grandmother has heard about the recent story where for the first time, gene editing saved a one-year-old girl from dying of leukemia. Microsoft word versus genome … Continue reading Gene editing in blood stem cells just got easier

Stem cell stories that caught our eye: cancer fighting virus, lab-grown guts work in dogs, stem cell trial to cure HIV

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. Cancer fighting virus approved for melanoma (Disclaimer: While this isn’t a story about stem cells, it’s pretty cool so I had to include it.) The … Continue reading Stem cell stories that caught our eye: cancer fighting virus, lab-grown guts work in dogs, stem cell trial to cure HIV

From Stem Cells to Cures with Shinya Yamanaka and Google Ventures

How do you go from basic stem cell research to cures for patients? We ask this question everyday at CIRM, and we’re not alone in our tireless pursuit to find answers to this challenging question. In fact, two leaders on different sides of the stem cell arena - research and investment - came together last … Continue reading From Stem Cells to Cures with Shinya Yamanaka and Google Ventures

Don Reed Reflects on the California Stem Cell Initiative

Yesterday was stem cell awareness day. In honor of this important event, Don Reed held a book reading at CIRM for his newly released book, STEM CELL BATTLES: Proposition 71 and Beyond: How Ordinary People Can Fight Back Against the Crushing Burden of Chronic Disease. Don has worn many hats during his life. He’s been … Continue reading Don Reed Reflects on the California Stem Cell Initiative

Happy Stem Cell Awareness Day!

I woke up today extra early this morning feeling like a kid at Christmas time because it's Stem Cell Awareness day! This exciting day brings together organizations and people around the world working to ensure that we realize the benefits of one of the most promising fields of science in our time. The day is a … Continue reading Happy Stem Cell Awareness Day!

Stem cells and prostate cancer are more similar than we thought

Prostate cancer is a scary word for men, no matter how macho or healthy they are. These days however, prostate cancer is no longer a death sentence for them. In fact, many men survive this disease if diagnosed early. However, for those unlucky ones who have more advanced stages of prostate cancer (where the tumor … Continue reading Stem cells and prostate cancer are more similar than we thought

Calling for a cure for HIV/AIDS

Larry Kramer is a pivotal figure in the history of HIV/AIDS. His activism on many fronts has been widely credited with changing public health policy and speeding up access to experimental medications for people infected with the virus. So when he says that the fight for treatment is not enough but "The battle cry now … Continue reading Calling for a cure for HIV/AIDS

CIRM Scholar Spotlight: Matt Donne on Lung Stem Cells

CIRM has funded a number of educational and research training programs over the past ten years to give younger students and graduate/postdoc scholars the opportunity to explore stem cell science. Two of the main programs we support are the Bridges and the CIRM Scholars Training Program. These programs fund future scientists from an undergraduate to … Continue reading CIRM Scholar Spotlight: Matt Donne on Lung Stem Cells

How Brain Stem Cells Could Stay Forever Young

As we age, so do the cells that make up our bodies. To keep us spry as we get older, our bodies rely on adult stem cells to replace the cells in our tissues and organs. Adult stem cells can only generate cell types specific to the organ or tissue that they live in. For … Continue reading How Brain Stem Cells Could Stay Forever Young

CIRM-funded team traces molecular basis for differences between human and chimp face

So similar yet so different Whenever I go to the zoo, I could easily spend my entire visit hanging out with our not-so-distant relatives, the chimpanzees. To say we humans are similar to them is quite an understatement. Sharing 96% of our DNA, chimps are more closely related to us than they are to gorillas. And … Continue reading CIRM-funded team traces molecular basis for differences between human and chimp face