UCLA Broad Stem Cell

Aging biology is moving fast. New work from @dgsomucla from @ACovarrubiasPhD highlights how “zombie” immune cells (senescent macrophages) in the liver build up with age and drive chronic inflammation. A powerful example of how training, discovery & collaboration are advancing our understanding of aging—and pointing toward new therapies. nature.com/articles/s4358…

Hair loss treatments haven’t meaningfully changed in decades. Pelage was built to change that. We're advancing PP405, a topical therapy designed to reactivate dormant hair follicle stem cells to restore hair growth, with plans to initiate late-stage trials later this year. Read our full story below. latimes.com/b2b/health-lif…

For the first time, UCLA scientists @LTULab have mapped how Down syndrome reshapes the human brain before birth — uncovering surprising shifts in neuron development that may explain differences in brain size and cognition. Read more ➡️bit.ly/4ebcP7z #BrainDevelopment

A clinical trial for sickle cell disease that UCLA's @Kohn_Lab led over nearly a decade yields hard-won insights — and a roadmap for better clinical trial design for blood diseases. Read more ➡️ bit.ly/4vHEX8y #ResearchPowersProgress #SickleCellDisease #GeneTherapy

In collaboration with Dr. Jasmine Zhou and an incredible team of UCLA scientists, our director has published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences a new low-cost blood test to detect and monitor many diseases including ovarian cancer. uclahealth.org/news/release/u…

About 1 in 3 Angelenos has fatty liver disease. @UCLA scientists may have just found a new way to treat it by targeting dysfunctional immune cells dubbed "zombie cells." 🧟🧫 #ResearchPowersProgress @ACovarrubiasPhD stemcell.ucla.edu/news/ucla-scie…

Online now!✨RESEARCH: Salladay-Perez and colleagues interrogate whether macrophages can really undergo senescence, and characterize a p21+Trem2+ senescent macrophage population functionally implicated in inflammaging and liver disease @ACovarrubiasPhD nature.com/articles/s4358…

ICYMI: FDA approval of a new gene therapy marks a major advance in treating a rare and life-threatening immune disorder in children. newsroom.ucla.edu/in-the-news/fd…

The FDA has approved a gene therapy developed at UCLA for a rare immune disorder, with clinical trial patients showing restored immune function. newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/fda-a…

Read more: bit.ly/4sUCztg #StemCells #RareDisease

All 3 Langenhop kids were born with a rare, often-fatal immune disorder called LAD-I. After joining a UCLA #GeneTherapy trial, they're now "normal, happy kids" with functional immune systems. Their trial participation helped make last week’s FDA accelerated approval possible. 💙

In collaboration with @RocketPharma , we celebrate the first FDA-approved gene therapy supported by @CIRMnews and CA taxpayer funding. #raredisease matters.

The FDA approved a gene therapy for severe leukocyte adhesion deficiency type 1 (LAD-1), an ultra-rare disease that leaves children vulnerable to life-threatening infections. trib.al/ZW299KK

How does the FDA-approved LAD-I gene therapy work? Doctors take the patient's OWN stem cells, add a healthy copy of the mutated gene, and return them. No donor needed. No transplant rejection risk. All 9 trial patients: restored immune systems. 🔗 lnkd.in/gDJzjgvx

The FDA has granted accelerated approval for KRESLADI, a gene therapy for LAD-I — a rare immune disorder that can be fatal in young children. Led by @Kohn_Lab @UCLA, all 9 clinical trial patients survived with restored immune function. 🔗bit.ly/4uVBcfg #GeneTherapy

UCLA researchers Lili Yang and Sanaz Memarzadeh have developed a ready to use CAR NKT therapy that destroys endometrial cancer, with doses estimated at about $5,000. newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/unive…

Mark your calendars for Thursday, April 2 as @DrShrutiNaik of @IcahnMountSinai presents, "Mechanisms of Tissue Adaptation and Maladaptation” at 12pm in CHS 13-105. The seminar is open to all UCLA faculty, students and staff! 🐻 Register today: bit.ly/4rLfVC9

UCLA researchers led by @cnsiatucla member Steven Jonas (@UCLAstemcell) developed lipid nanoparticles that deliver a full CFTR gene into airway cells, restoring function in a cystic fibrosis model. CNSI’s EICN and ALMS facilities supported the study: cnsi.ucla.edu/project/februa…

The ISSCR recognizes two outstanding scientists with Honorable Mention distinctions for the 2026 Momentum Award. Congratulations Kathrin Plath, @UCLA, and Joseph C. Wu (@Joseph_C_Wu), @StanfordCVI! The award is supported by @BlueRockTx. Learn more: ow.ly/YxIj50YoFc0

Considerations for the future of in vitro gametogenesis in fertility care go.nature.com/4l2e9en