Stock image of a researcher The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has recently approved awarding $25 million to fund multiple projects across discovery research, clinical research, and infrastructure programs. This funding will support 11 projects under CIRM’s Foundation Awards Program, which aims to drive rigorous studies addressing critical basic knowledge gaps in the biology of stem cells and regenerative medicine approaches and advance stem cell-based tools. Additionally, CIRM awarded $6 million to Eugenio Cingolani, PhD, of Cedars Sinai, to support a preclinical proj ..read more

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), established by the voters of California, is accelerating research and awareness of Sickle Cell Disease. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), one of the world’s largest institutions dedicated to regenerative medicine, is proud to announce the launch of “Championing Change for Sickle Cell in California,” a pioneering campaign aimed at increasing awareness of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and research aimed at improving the treatment landscape for the condition. With more than 100,000 Americans and 20 million people wor ..read more

CIRM has produced videos highlighting the experiences of participants from our educational and training programs. At the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), we are passionate about catalyzing growth in regenerative medicine while championing inclusivity. One of CIRM’s strategic goals is to build a diverse and skilled workforce that represents the rich tapestry of California’s population.     That’s why the CIRM—spearheaded by the Scientific Programs & Education team—is launching a set of videos to showcase the unique perspectives of CIRM’s educational and train ..read more

Hataalii Tiisyatonii Begay (HT) participated in a CIRM-funded clinical trial at UCSF for Artemis-SCID, a condition that can be life-threatening or fatal. Photo courtesy Barbara Ries / UCSF.  The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) funds innovative cell and gene therapy research and educational programs to advance regenerative medicine in the Golden State. Just as important is CIRM’s commitment to ensuring that Californians from diverse backgrounds have access to groundbreaking clinical trials for a variety of diseases and condition resulting from the research.   ..read more

Stock image of a uterus and ovaries model. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded a $5.3 million to Karen Aboody, MD of City of Hope for late-stage preclinical research to develop a neural stem cell mediated treatment for a chemo-resistant, metastatic ovarian cancer. Approximately 22,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer—the most lethal gynecologic malignancy—each year in the US. At diagnosis, more than 70 percent of patients are already late stage with abdominal metastases, leading to a dismal 34 percent 5-year survival rate. The standard of care include ..read more

Symptoms of lupus may include pain or swelling in the joints, extreme fatigue, a butterfly rash on the cheeks and nose, and more. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded $7.9 million to Barbara Hickingbottom, MD, of Fate Therapeutics to advance clinical research for FT819, an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived CD19 CAR T-cell therapy for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). SLE is a debilitating autoimmune disease and affects more than 200,000 Americans, particularly women of color. FT819 targets B cells with the aim to reset the immune system and provi ..read more

Photo Credit: California State University, San Marcos. Cal State San Marcos cellular and molecular biology student and former California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Bridges intern Kevin Brown Jr. has been awarded the Rising Black Scientist Award from the journal Cell Press, Cell Signaling Technology (CST), and the Elsevier Foundation. Brown was selected from a pool of more than 350 applicants in various sciences. In the application, Cell Press asked emerging black scientists to share their scientific vision, experiences that sparked their interest in science, how ..read more

The streets of Oakland were alive with vibrant colors, infectious energy, and a powerful sense of community as the 2024 Black Joy Parade took center stage on Sunday, February 25.  Black Joy Parade-goers with colorful noisemakers walking down Franklin and 19th St. The Black Joy Parade is a yearly celebration of the Black community and its contributions to history and culture. The event started with a parade and culminated in a celebration featuring local businesses, community-based organizations, and musical artists.   CIRM outreach manager, Aditi Desai highlighting resource mate ..read more

Photo credit: Barbara Ries for UCSF, Jaquell Chandler, and OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks  The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), California’s Stem Cell Agency and the world’s largest institution dedicated to regenerative medicine reached a milestone when it approved funding for its 100th clinical trial. At the February Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee (ICOC) meeting, the board approved five new clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease, autoimmune conditions, cancers, and other conditions, which brought CIRM’s awards from 98 to 103. “CIRM has proven how much can ..read more

Shared resources, including state-of-the art lab equipment and expertise, foster collaboration (above). Photo courtesy of UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center.  The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has approved awarding $21.3 million to create a network of Shared Resources Laboratories (SRLs) for Stem Cell-Based Modeling. The SRLs are an important component of CIRM’s Infrastructure Program, which is designed to address the challenges that hinder progress in the regenerative medicine field. The approved awards include:  Application  Program Title  P ..read more