Every once in a while, it’s a good idea to take a step back and look at what you’ve done, what you’ve achieved. It’s not about identifying the things that have gone well and patting yourself on the back for them; it’s more a matter of assessing where you started, what your goals were, where you succeeded, where you fell short, and where you want to go in the future.
So during the month of October, we are going to be taking a look back at what CIRM has done in the years since we were created by the people of California in 2004. We want to take stock of what we have done and how that has helped shape the agency we are today, and the agency we hope to be in the future.
Each week we will highlight a different area, starting with a look at the projects we are funding in clinical trials – how after our first ten years we had seventeen projects in clinical trials, and today that number is 35 and counting. We’ll also provide updates on our infrastructure programs like the Alpha Stem Cell Clinics Network and the Stem Cell Center – programs that play a critical role in accelerating the development and delivery of high quality stem cell treatments to patients with unmet medical needs.
Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll show how the way we work has changed and evolved as the field of stem cell research progressed, and how we have tried to be more responsive both to the needs of researchers and patients.
We’ll also be taking a look at the people who have helped play a key role in shaping us, from the scientists who do the work to the patient advocates who are relentless champions of stem cell research. We’ll even profile some of the unsung heroes here at CIRM.
But even as we look back we’re going to use that to frame our future, to see where we are going. We have some big goals for the next few years – as laid out in our Strategic Plan – and we are working hard to get there. By reflecting on the past, using the experienced gained and lessons learned, we hope to have a much clearer view of what we need to do in the years ahead.
Like any good driver we are focused on what is in front of us; but every once in a while, it’s not a bad idea to take a look in the rearview mirror and see what’s behind you, where you have come from.
During October we’re taking a quick look in our rear view mirror. (photo source)
The Stem Cellar 
My granddaughter became ill with Sjogrens when she was 14. She has not produced tears since then. Her salivary glands are also no longer working and her teeth have taken a beating. She is only 21 years old and has thought so often of killing herself the pain is so bad. She has been on steroids to the point she is having rages, pulling her own hair out and scratching her face until it bleeds. Sjogrens is the SECOND immunity disease next to RA. I am hoping that someone in your group is looking for a cure for this awful disease. She is living in the Oakland, Ca area now, in case you have studies for this.
Thank you,
Linda Piel