The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) proudly participated in and sponsored the recent 2024 Los Angeles Bioscience Ecosystem Summit Twenty (LABEST) Conference, the premier showcase for bioscience innovation in Los Angeles.  

With around 1,000 participants, LABEST is one of the largest gatherings of visionary scientists, enthusiastic entrepreneurs, and pioneering institutions in the region.  

Top bioscience research programs and startups were showcased throughout the event, highlighting expertise, pioneering research, and resources directed at developing innovative patient therapies. 

Supporting Bioscience Collaboration

The event served as a great opportunity for CIRM to highlight our impact in bioscience innovation in the greater Los Angeles area and throughout California. 

To date, CIRM has invested more than $3 billion in these areas to advance therapies to patients, including funding 100+ clinical trials for diseases and conditions like cancer and diabetes. 

Here’s a snapshot of CIRM’s impact in the Los Angeles region: 

• $1.2 billion+ invested into the LA region over 381 CIRM awards 
• $126 million+ invested in Education & Training Programs in the LA region 
• $144 million+ invested in LA-based Infrastructure projects, including Alpha Clinics and Manufacturing Network sites 

“As a co-sponsor of LABEST, we are very committed to building the ecosystem here in Los Angeles. We have awarded more than $470 million to UCLA to cover research spanning from rare diseases to most prevalent diseases,” said Jonathan Thomas, Interim CEO and President at CIRM.

Showcasing CIRM’s Programs and Expertise

At the conference, CIRM connected with a diverse group of stakeholders, from researchers pioneering cellular therapies to entrepreneurs who turn scientific insights into accessible therapeutic innovations.  

CIRM’s Interim President, Jonathan Thomas, PhD, JD, presented a keynote, emphasizing the Agency’s role in fueling innovation. He said, “CIRM is one of the largest public-private partnerships in the world. We have helped enable California to become a major player in cell and gene therapy research field.”

Abla Creasey, PhD, Vice President of Therapeutics Development at CIRM, moderated a panel, “Exciting Progress & Innovative Advancements in Ophthalmology,” and provided an expert voice on new payment models for ultra-rare diseases.  

During a panel on biomanufacturing, Shyam Patel, PhD, Senior Director of Business Development at CIRM, underscored the importance of manufacturing in advancing therapeutic breakthroughs. “Manufacturing for cell and gene therapies is a miraculous endeavor and is the main driver of everything. We recognize that manufacturing needs to get better, faster, and cheaper.” 

As sponsor of this pivotal event, CIRM not only supports biotech innovation but also the partnerships between academic institutions, the investment community, and the biopharma industry that help catalyze breakthroughs in treating diseases.  

For more information on LABEST, visit the official event website.