Category Archives: Stem Cell Research

SACRAMENTO (KABC) -- Eight years ago voters agreed to fund California's stem cell agency, hoping it would yield new treatments for various conditions. Now the agency is running out of funds and any practical cures are still years away. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is about to enter a crucial stage in stem cell research: going to clinical trials. The most promising experiments could cure diabetes, HIV, sickle-cell anemia and blindness in the elderly. "You don't really get to find out whether the potential of the treatment is really going to be effective until you start to treat the patients," said Alan Trounson, president of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. CIRM's board is discussing how much to allocate for that trial phase. Through voter-approved bonds under Proposition 71 (The California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act), it has already given out or spent half of the $3 billion, but despite the medical promise, there's little to show for it beyond basic research and several high-tech laboratories. But the agency says the breakthroughs will come over the next few years, way ahead of the rest of the world. "This would all be happening in California, all driven by … Continue reading →

Published: March. 22, 2012 at 4:15 PM LANSING, Mich., March 22 (UPI) -- Republican state legislators say the University of Michigan could lose some funding if it does not answer questions about stem cell research. Language was attached to last year's budget that requires the university to inform the legislature how many stem cell lines it has created and has on hand as well as numbers of embryos and research projects. Lawmakers on a subcommittee dealing with the issue accused university officials of "thumbing their nose" at the Legislature, the Detroit Free Press reported. They have said the university could be stripped of some state aid. "If we roll over, I think it will have a precedent effect, and we'd be really weakening the power of the Legislature," said state Rep. Kevin Cotter, a Republican from Mount Pleasant. The university is the only one in the state involved in stem cell research. President Mary Sue Coleman said the university sent 50 to 60 pages of information on stem cell research because officials wanted to put the numbers in context. But legislators complain the specific numbers the university is required to give were not there. "We believe it's just not possible … Continue reading →

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KGO) -- Stem cells are the focus of debate in Sacramento where an effort is underway to use more than $1 billion in voter-approved bonds to continue experiments that may one day cure disease. Major medical breakthroughs take time, but as public money for stem cell research is spent down, the pressure to cure something is going up. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is about to enter a crucial stage in stem cell research, going to clinical trials. The most promising experiments could cure diabetes, HIV, sickle cell anemia, and blindness in the elderly. "You don't really get to find out whether the potential of the treatment is really going to be effective until you start to treat the patients," Alan Trounson explained. CIRM's board is discussing how much to allocate for that trial phase. Through the 2004 voter-approved bonds under Proposition 71, it has already given out or spent half of the $3 billion, but despite the medical promise, there's little to show for it beyond basic research and several high-tech labs. Still, the agency says the breakthroughs will come over the next few years, way ahead of the rest of the world. "This would … Continue reading →

Written by Nannette Miranda, ABC7 SACRAMENTO, CA - The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, CIRM, is about to enter a crucial stage in stem cell research: going to clinical trials. The most promising experiments could cure: diabetes, HIV, sickle cell and blindness in the elderly. "You don't really get to find out whether the potential of the treatment is really going to be effective until you start with patients, the human subjects," CIRM's Alan Trounson said. CIRM's board is discussing how much to allocate for that trial phase. Through voter-approved bonds under Proposition 71, it has already given out or spent half of the $3 billion, but despite the medical promise, there's little to show for it beyond basic research and several high-tech labs. But the agency said the breakthroughs will come over the next few years, way ahead of the rest of the world. "This would all be happening in California, all driven by this Proposition 71 money," Trounson said. The bond money is expected to last only several more years. One option is to ask voters to approve more bonds, something taxpayer groups oppose. Continued here: California institute fights to continue stem cell research … Continue reading →

With recent remarks made by Republican Presidential nominee Rick Santorum on his stance on Stem Cell Research, people suffering from Parkinsons disease and other afflictions which can benefit from Stem Cell research have opened up Pandoras Box in their search for non-traditional methods to reduce symptoms. Recent medical studies as well as an in-depth report posted at BeWellBuzz.com have confirmed that the ancient martial art of Tai chi can significantly reduce some of the worst physical problems of Parkinson's disease. Las Vegas, Nevada (PRWEB) March 20, 2012 Parkinson's disease is a nervous system disorder which commonly develops in humans of age 50 and above, however, many people, such as Hollywood actor Michael J. Fox have been diagnosed with this affliction much earlier in life. Parkinsons carries certain specific symptoms such as constant blinking, lack of facial expressions, shaking, loss of balance and coordination, and other irregular bodily reactions, and is caused primarily by the destruction of the nerve cells in the brain which makes dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for the transfer of pleasure and reward feelings in the center of the brain. Medications may help control some things, like tremors, but many drugs are not as good at helping the … Continue reading →

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB: ISCO.OB - News) (www.internationalstemcell.com) today announced year-end financial results for the year ended December 31, 2011. ISCO is a California-based development-stage biotechnology company that is focused on therapeutic, biomedical and cosmeceutical product development and commercialization with multiple long-term therapeutic opportunities and two revenue-generating businesses offering potential for increased future revenue. ISCO reported revenue of $1.1 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2011, reflecting a 110% increase from the same period of the prior year. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2011, the Company reported revenue of $4.5 million, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 189%. The increases in revenues in both periods were primarily driven by strong sales at ISCOs wholly-owned subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care (LSC). In addition, steady growth in sales from ISCOs other wholly-owned subsidiary, Lifeline Cell Technology (LCT), contributed to the increases in revenues for both periods. While the Company continued to invest in therapeutic projects, development of new technologies, and expansion of products and channels of distribution, to date we have generated limited revenue to support our core therapeutic research and development efforts. For the three months ended December 31, 2011, development expenses, excluding cost of … Continue reading →

NOKOMIS, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As global demand for innovative new stem-cell therapies grows by the day, Rainbow BioSciences (OTCBB:RBCC.OB - News) new agreement with n3D Biosciences could help to bring these therapies to market faster than ever before. Stem cell therapies are becoming increasingly important to healthcare advancement around the world. Rising care delivery costs, worldwide population aging, and potential physician shortages are only three of the issues facing world healthcare providers. The cost to bring a new drug to market has soared to $1.3 billion, and there are now half as many drugs seeking approval as there were 15 years ago. Rising costs and potential shortages have led to a boom in demand for stem cell therapies. These advanced treatments could soon help to ease costs and provide effective disease treatment, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing health care costs. For that to happen, however, real challenges must be overcome. Translation of these therapies from the lab to the clinic is slow, and widespread implementation could be a decade away or more. Thanks to n3Ds Bio-Assembler technology, however, the development timeline for many stem cell therapies could potentially be shortened significantly. The Bio-Assembler enables researchers to culture cells in three … Continue reading →

LOS ANGELES (AP) The creation of California's stem cell agency in 2004 was greeted by scientists and patients as a turning point in a field mired in debates about the destruction of embryos and hampered by federal research restrictions. The taxpayer-funded institute wielded the extraordinary power to dole out $3 billion in bond proceeds to fund embryonic stem cell work with an eye toward treatments for a host of crippling diseases. Midway through its mission, with several high-tech labs constructed, but little to show on the medicine front beyond basic research, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine faces an uncertain future. Is it still relevant nearly eight years later? And will it still exist when the money dries up? The answers could depend once again on voters and whether they're willing to extend the life of the agency. Several camps that support stem cell research think taxpayers should not pay another cent given the state's budget woes. "It would be so wrong to ask Californians to pony up more money," said Marcy Darnovsky of the Center for Genetics and Society, a pro-stem cell research group that opposed Proposition 71, the state ballot initiative that formed CIRM. Last December, CIRM's former … Continue reading →

By ALICIA CHANG AP Science Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) - The creation of California's stem cell agency in 2004 was greeted by scientists and patients as a turning point in a field mired in debates about the destruction of embryos and hampered by federal research restrictions. The taxpayer-funded institute wielded the extraordinary power to dole out $3 billion in bond proceeds to fund embryonic stem cell work with an eye toward treatments for a host of crippling diseases. Midway through its mission, with several high-tech labs constructed, but little to show on the medicine front beyond basic research, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine faces an uncertain future. Is it still relevant nearly eight years later? And will it still exist when the money dries up? The answers could depend once again on voters and whether they're willing to extend the life of the agency. Several camps that support stem cell research think taxpayers should not pay another cent given the state's budget woes. "It would be so wrong to ask Californians to pony up more money," said Marcy Darnovsky of the Center for Genetics and Society, a pro-stem cell research group that opposed Proposition 71, the state ballot initiative … Continue reading →

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The creation of California's stem cell agency in 2004 was greeted by scientists and patients as a turning point in a field mired in debates about the destruction of embryos and hampered by federal research restrictions. The taxpayer-funded institute wielded the extraordinary power to dole out $3 billion in bond proceeds to fund embryonic stem cell work with an eye toward treatments for a host of crippling diseases. Midway through its mission, with several high-tech labs constructed, but little to show on the medicine front beyond basic research, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine faces an uncertain future. Is it still relevant nearly eight years later? And will it still exist when the money dries up? The answers could depend once again on voters and whether they're willing to extend the life of the agency. Several camps that support stem cell research think taxpayers should not pay another cent given the state's budget woes. "It would be so wrong to ask Californians to pony up more money," said Marcy Darnovsky of the Center for Genetics and Society, a pro-stem cell research group that opposed Proposition 71, the state ballot initiative that formed CIRM. Last December, CIRM's … Continue reading →