Links

Stem cell and related links.

Patient organizations & information

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Society (UK)
Alzheimer Europe
Alzheimer's Research Forum - This research-oriented website reports on the latest scientific findings, from basic research to clinical trials; creates and maintains public databases of research data and reagents, and hosts discussion forums to promote debate, speed the dissemination of new ideas, and break down barriers across the numerous disciplines that can contribute to the global effort to cure Alzheimer's disease.

Motor Neuron Disease

(also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease)
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis information page
Motor Neuron Disease (MND) Association
Scottish Motor Neuron Disease Association

Multiple Sclerosis

The European Multiple Sclerosis Platform
The Multiple Sclerosis Society
Multiple Sclerosis Trust
The National Insitute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - Multiple Sclerosis information page

Muscular Dystrophies

Action Duchenne - aims to offer a unique forum for sharing information and ideas in the search for a cure and better medical care for Duchenne and Becker. This link takes you directly to a blog post by Professor Terry Partridge about stem cells and muscular dystrophy.
TREAT-NMD - listing of organisations and support groups in Europe for patients with neuromuscular diseases.
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Association Français contre les Myopathies

Parkinson's Disease

European Parkinson’s Disease Association
Parkinson’s Disease Society (UK)
The National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke - Parkinson's disease information page
PDTrials - a collaborative initiative of Parkinson’s organizations dedicated to increasing education and awareness about clinical research.  Trials listed are in North America, but lots of useful information for anyone with Parkinson's.  In English and Spanish.

Spinal Cord Injuries

European Spinal Cord Injury Federation - pan-European federation of organisations representing people with spinal cord injuries
ICCP - International Campaign for Cures of Spinal Cord Injury Paralysis

Stroke

Stroke Alliance for Europe - listing of European patient organizations
The Stroke Association
The Stroke Trials Directory of the Internet Stroke Center
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - stroke information page

Type 1 Diabetes

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International

Stem cell organizations, networks and consortia

Links to stem celli organizations, networks and consortia around the globe.

International stem cell organizations

ISSCR - International Society for Stem Cellii Research
ICSCN - International Consortium of Stem Cell Networks SSSCR - Student Society for Stem Cell Research
Genetics Policy Institute - nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a positive legal framework to advance stem cell research.

North American stem cell networks

Stem Cell Network Canada

Asia Pacific stem cell organizations, networks and consortia

SNAP - Stem Celli Network Asia Pacific
Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research (ASSCR)
Australian Stem Cell Centre
Singapore Stem Cell Consortium

Stem cell resources - educational, multimedia and reference

Online resources for teachers, students and others interested in finding out more about stem cells.

Reference materials

EuroStemCell site glossary
Online glossary of words and phrases commonly used in stem celli research.

PAS 84 Regenerative Medicine - Glossary
The British Standards Institution (BSI) has recently published a new Publicly Available Specification (PAS) which defines the terms commonly used in the field of regenerative medicine. Developed in consultation with UK stakeholders, PAS 84 contains over 200 definitions in the areas of cell and tissue components, non-cellular components, cell and tissue procurement, measurement and analysis, manufacturing and production, and clinical trials. Download PDF file from BSI website.

Understanding Stem Cells
An educational primer by the US National Academies "designed to provide basic knowledge to facilitate thinking about and understanding the scientific and ethical issues surrounding stem cells."

 

 

Poster on pluripotent cell isolation for regenerative medicine
This poster, available as a PDF download from Nature Reviews Molecular Biology, compares and contrasts the properties of pluripotent embryonic stem cellsi with those of laboratory-generated pluripotent cells.  See also the accompanying glossary.

 

Teaching resources

ENGAGE: Stem Cells
A high school teaching resource on stem cell research developed through the Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI) by Genome Canada, and the Joint Centre for Bioethics (JCB) at the University of Toronto.
The resource materials in English and French can be downloaded from the Stem Cell Network Canada website.

stemcellresources.org
A comprehensive and well-classified collection of teaching and educational resources, including lesson plans and modules, developed by the Bioscience Network in association with the Biology Teachers Association of NJ and the National Association of Biology Teachers (US).


Teachers TV - Teaching Practice: Stem Cell Research
Three videos show how one teacher uses Democs (conversation card activity) resources in a Year 11/12 class on stem cell research.

 

Web & multimedia resources

The Stem Cell Channel
A public education initiative which uses interactive media to describe diseases that are targets of stem cell research, offers footage of microscopic procedures such as somatic celli nuclear transfer, and verbal explanations of basic concepts in stem cell research.  Presented by the Australian Stem Cell Centre.
Visit the Stem Cell Channel

Stem cell films and videos

EuroStemCell films
Four short films about different aspects of stem cell research - from basic research to clinical applications and ethics. 
Watch them online now. 

 

 

ISSCR movies and images
Film clips compiled by the International Society for Stem Cell Research, including:

Mapping Stem Cell Research: Terra Incognita
A feature length documentary film and companion civic engagement campaign.Through the personal experiences of researcher Dr. Jack Kessler and his daughter, Allison, lab researchers and others affected by spinal cord injury, the film "follows the evolving interplay between the promise of new discoveries and the controversy of modern science".

 

Stem Cells: Developing New Cures
A six-minute video produced by the New York Stem Cell Foundation and available to view on their website.

Stem cell blogs

The Niche
A blog hosted by Nature Reports Stem Cells to provide an informal forum for debate and commentary on stem cell research and its wider implications for ethics, policy, business, and medicine.

Ben's Stem Cell News
Created by Ben Kaplan, who has a public relations background and has cerebral palsy, this blog aims to be "a single site that chronicles and compiles news and information from many different sources about this promising area of scientific research".