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Astronaut Dr. Peggy Whitson: Bridging Space and Medical Science
In an era where the realms of space exploration and medical science are converging, few voices carry as much authority and insight as that of astronaut Dr. Peggy Whitson. Alongside her counterpart, Dr. Lisa Carnell, their dialogue at the 2023 Sanford Stem Cell Symposium exemplified the pioneering spirit driving this interdisciplinary frontier. Dr. Whitson, with […]
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Understanding Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a complex condition marked by recurring seizures due to abnormal brain activity. Jenny Hsieh’s research tackles this puzzling condition, which affects over 65 million people globally. Hseih aims to unravel its mysteries by using stem cell-based models, including patient-derived neurons, to understand the underlying causes and mechanisms. Hsieh’s method allows her to recreate […]
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Sanford Stem Cell Symposium 2022
In late October of 2022, research and clinical experts from around the globe gathered for the Sanford Stem Cell Institute Symposium – a multidisciplinary event highlighting recent breakthroughs in regenerative medicine. Stakeholders from academia, industry, government, and the public discussed developments in the field for turning stem cell-based therapies into approved products for patients in […]
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Harnessing Stem Cells to Solve Problems
Bioengineering is a field that applies engineering principles to biological and biomedical problems. Stem cell research allows us to understand the basics of human development and disease. When these two disciplines meet, a world of possibilities for human health is unlocked. During the 2021 Sanford Stem Cell Symposium, a panel of experts discussed recent advancements […]
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Spinal Cord Injury and Stem Cells
Every year, 15,000 – 20,000 Americans sustain a spinal cord injury (SCI). Another 200,000 – 500,000 are living in the chronic stages of SCI every day. Loss of movement and sensation, persistent pain, and depression are common. Could stem cells play a role in finding a cure? Dr. Mark Tuszynski shares his work using neural […]
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Searching for Autism in our Social Brain
All animals need to know and communicate with their own, so evolution has developed in every brain the ways we all recognize and socialize with each other. But while other brains are social – no other brain is as social, or can do what the human brain can – and as far as science knows […]
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Unlocking the Mysteries of the Brain Through Stem Cell Research
Inside a lab at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, researchers are doing something truly remarkable. They are growing tiny versions of developing human brains in order to study everything from Alzheimer’s disease to the Zika virus. Alysson Muotri is the co-director of the UC San Diego Stem Cell Program and leads the team researching […]
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3D Printing with Stem Cells
Transplants are expensive and risky, and donor organs are in short supply. Researchers at UC San Diego are working on technology to change all of that. It’s called bioprinting. In simple terms, bioprinting is 3D printing with living tissue. Researcher Shaochen Chen has been perfecting the process in his lab for years. Bioprinting is a […]
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Brain-Powered Robot
It sounds like the plot of a science fiction movie. Scientists grow brains in a lab and use them to power robots. But, it’s really happening at UC San Diego – to a degree. Stem cell researcher Alysson Muotri has teamed up with a high school student for the groundbreaking project. It’s called the Neurobot, […]
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Searching for a Cure for Blindness
There are a number of diseases that can lead to blindness. But, a researcher at UC San Diego thinks there might be one way to cure them all. It’s called endogenous regeneration. Think of a lizard re-growing a lost tail. Zebrafish can do something similar with retinal tissue. Researcher Karl Wahlin says there is evidence […]