Jackie Ward, PhD. Photo courtesy of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke It's always fun to meet someone early in their career and watch them grow, evolve, and take on new challenges. I first met Jackie Ward when she received a training grant from CIRM while she studied for her PhD at the … Continue reading Jackie Ward, from our house to the White House
Stroke
Fighting for his life and the lives of other stroke survivors
Sean Entin, stroke survivor and founder of Stroke Hacker Calling Sean Entin’s recovery from an almost‑fatal stroke miraculous isn’t wrong. But Sean's story is also one of hard work, determination, and a refusal to give up. Sean had a stroke in 2011. Doctors didn’t think he would survive. He was placed in a coma and … Continue reading Fighting for his life and the lives of other stroke survivors
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
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
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
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. Unapproved Interventions The first was from the Pew Charitable Trusts The Pew report is titled “Unapproved Stem Cell Interventions Highlight Need for Greater FDA Enforcement,” … Continue reading Two voices, one message, watch out for predatory stem cell clinics
Study shows reduction in brain injury after stroke patients were treated with their own stem cells
Illustration showing the mechanism of an ischemic stroke. In an ischemic stroke, blood supply to part of the brain is decreased, leading to dysfunction of that area of the brain. Here, a blood clot is the reason for restricted blood flow. Stroke is the third leading cause of death and serious long-term disability and affects … Continue reading Study shows reduction in brain injury after stroke patients were treated with their own stem cells
Can stem cells help people who have had a stroke? Ask the experts.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death and disability in the US. Every 45 seconds someone in the US has a stroke. Every year around 275,000 people die from a stroke many more survive but are often impaired by the brain attack. The impact is not just physical, but psychological and emotional. It takes … Continue reading Can stem cells help people who have had a stroke? Ask the experts.
How quitting smoking helps your lungs regenerate; a discovery could lead to new ways to repair damaged lungs; and encouraging news in a stroke recovery trial
Photo courtesy Lindsay Fox Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death not just in the US, but worldwide. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tobacco causes an estimated seven million deaths around the world, every single year. And for every person who dies, another 30 live with a … Continue reading How quitting smoking helps your lungs regenerate; a discovery could lead to new ways to repair damaged lungs; and encouraging news in a stroke recovery trial
The Top CIRM Blogs of 2019
This year the most widely read blog was actually one we wrote back in 2018. It’s the transcript of a Facebook Live: “Ask the Stem Cell Team” event about strokes and stroke recovery. Because stroke is the third leading cause of death and disability in the US it’s probably no surprise this blog has lasting … Continue reading The Top CIRM Blogs of 2019