Latest Stem Cell News

Healing broken bones requires specialized stem cells

Wed, 26 Aug 2015 07:00:00 +0000

Institute researchers have discovered the stem cell responsible for healing bone fractures in mice. The identification of the bone repair stem cell in mice and eventually in humans could lead to improved healing after bones are broken.

Viral proteins may regulate human embryonic development

Mon, 04 May 2015 07:00:00 +0000

Human embryos make viral proteins within days of fertilization, a new study shows. These proteins affect human gene expression and may protect the cells from infection by other viruses.

Brain tumor growth stimulated by nerve activity in the cortex, study finds

Erin Digitale — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 07:00:00 +0000

New research shows that high-grade gliomas, the deadliest human brain tumors, increase their growth by hijacking some of the machinery of neuroplasticity, which normally helps the brain form new synapses.

Scientists discover how to change human leukemia cells into harmless immune cells

Christopher Vaughan — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 07:00:00 +0000

After a chance observation in the lab, researchers found a method that can force dangerous leukemia cells in the lab to mature into harmless immune cells called macrophages.

5 Questions: Maria Grazia Roncarolo on advances in gene therapy

Thu, 02 Apr 2015 07:00:00 +0000

After leading successful clinical trials of gene therapy in Milan, Roncarolo hopes to build on that success at Stanford through collaboration with colleagues in the fields of genetics and stem cell science.

New way to sort cells without limitations of traditional methods

Christopher Vaughan — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 07:00:00 +0000

The method is analogous to analyzing a smoothie to find what fruits went into making it, the researchers say.

Maria Grazia Roncarolo on fast-tracking stem cell and gene therapy to the clinic

Paul Costello — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 07:00:00 +0000

Leading stem-cell expert and Stanford professor of pediatrics Maria Grazia Roncarolo, MD, will be leading a session on stem cell and gene therapy at Stanford’s inaugural Childx conference this spring. The session will focus on building and deploying approaches in gene therapy, stem cells, and regenerative medicine to cure many childhood diseases. Roncarolo joined the School of Medicine last June, after stepping down as scientific director of the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan, Italy. She was recruited to lead efforts in fast-tracking stem cell and gene therapy to the clinic and to bring basic-science discoveries to patients. In this podcast, she discusses her work as well as Childx, a TED-style conference focused on inspiring innovation in pediatric and maternal health.

Weissman receives Brupbacher Prize, McEwen Award

Fri, 06 Feb 2015 08:00:00 +0000

Stem cell pioneer Irving Weissman was recognized with the Brupbacher Prize for isolating cancer stem cells, as well as with the McEwen Award for his research on adult stem cells from a variety of human tissues and cancers.

Immune cells slap their own “eat me” label on cancer cells

Christopher Vaughan — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 +0000

Scientists have discovered that immune cells can carry around a supply of calreticulin and can themselves slap those chemical “eat me” labels on cancer cells before eating them.

Researchers isolate stem cell that gives rise to bones, cartilage in mice

Christopher Vaughan — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 08:00:00 +0000

The discovery of a skeletal stem cell in mice sets the stage for new methods to grow cartilage and bone for use in medical therapies.

Pluripotent cells created by nuclear transfer can prompt immune reaction, researchers find

Christopher Vaughan — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 08:00:00 +0000

Stanford researchers find that genetic differences in mitochondria contained in egg cells used in a process known as nuclear transfer can prompt rejection by the immune system in mice.

New molecular imaging technology could improve bladder-cancer detection, researchers say

Lisa Marie Potter — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 07:00:00 +0000

Researchers have developed a new imaging method that targets a protein known as CD47 in human bladder cancer. This technology may greatly improve cancer detection and enable more accurate surgeries.

Drug may prevent development of invasive bladder cancer, researchers say

Krista Conger — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 07:00:00 +0000

A drug that activates targets of the hedgehog signaling pathway, which is lost when bladder cancer invades, could prevent the progression of the disease in humans. Clinical trials are planned.

Wernig wins stem cell prize, Giocomo named neuroscience investigator

Thu, 16 Oct 2014 07:00:00 +0000

The New York Stem Cell Foundation awarded pathologist Marius Wernig $200,000 to pursue stem cell research, and neurobiologist Lisa Giocomo $1.5 million to expand her lab and train other scientists.

Flu vaccine clinical trials seek participants, especially kids

Becky Bach — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 07:00:00 +0000

Stanford researchers are seeking participants for clinical trials examining the immune system’s response to a flu vaccine. All participants will receive currently approved flu vaccines.

Pediatric Cancer Charity Funds Wernig Lab Study of Brain Cancer Genetic Regulation

Christopher Vaughan — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 07:00:00 +0000

Researchers at the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine have been given a small but significant burst of funding that may ultimately lead to new therapies for deadly brain cancers.

Leading stem-cell expert to join Stanford Medicine faculty

Erin Digitale — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 07:00:00 +0000

Maria Grazia Roncarolo will lead efforts to translate scientific discoveries in regenerative medicine into novel patient therapies, including treatments based on stem cells and gene therapy.

Transplanted terminally differentiated induced pluripotent stem cells are accepted by immune mechanisms similar to self-tolerance

Fri, 30 May 2014 07:00:00 +0000

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found that coaxing iPS cells in the laboratory to become more-specialized progeny cells (a cellular process called differentiation) before transplantation into mice allows them to be tolerated by the body’s immune system.

Coaxing iPS cells to become more specialized prior to transplantation cuts rejection risk

Krista Conger — Fri, 30 May 2014 07:00:00 +0000

A new study shows that coaxing iPS cells in the laboratory to become more-specialized cells before transplantation into mice allows them to be tolerated by the body's immune system.

Researchers discover that adult kidneys constantly grow and remodel themselves, and how they do it

Thu, 15 May 2014 07:00:00 +0000

Researchers at the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and the Sheba Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine in Israel have shown how the kidneys constantly grow and have surprising ability to regenerate themselves , overturning decades of accepted wisdom.