News Archive - Erin Prater

From Rett and Pitt-Hopkins to ALS: 5 Rare Diseases UC San Diego Researchers are Tackling in the Lab

This Rare Disease Day (February 28, 2026), read on to learn more about five orphan conditions, the people they affect and the UC San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Institute researchers fanning the flames of hope for patients around the globe.

Can Stem Cells Seal Carol’s Fate With ‘The Others’? Expert Separates Pluribus’ Science Fact, Fiction

In the season finale of Apple TV's Pluribus, Carol learns that induced pluripotent stem cells from her frozen eggs could be used to unite her with The Others. Robert Signer, PhD, of the Sanford Stem Cell Institute’s Sanford Stem Cell Discovery Center, separates stem cell science fact from fiction.

Combination Therapy Could Expand Treatment Options for AML Patients, Extend Survival

Proteasome inhibitors have proven highly effective in multiple myeloma but not in acute myeloid leukemia. The addition of a drug that inactivates the HSF1 pathway or impairs autophagy could change that.

Small Nuclear RNA Base Editing a Safer Alternative to CRISPR, UC San Diego Researchers Find

Genetic editing holds promise to treat incurable diseases, but the most popular method — CRISPR — sometimes does more harm than good. A new study from University of California San Diego and Yale University researchers highlights an innovative approach that may be safer: small nuclear RNA editing.

CIRM Scholars Program Makes California a Rare ‘Powerhouse of Science’ in the United States

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Scholars program seeks to develop skilled leaders in the field of regenerative medicine who create safe, cutting-edge stem cell treatments for diseases without cure like cancer, diabetes, heart disease and HIV.

Cancer Drug Could Ease Cognitive Function for Some With Autism

An experimental cancer drug could ease cognition for individuals with Rett syndrome, a rare disorder linked to autism, according to new research from the Muotri Lab at the University of California San Diego — a discovery that could lead to therapies for patients with other neurologic conditions.