Month: August 2026

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Marguerite Casillas gives patients a voice to make science stronger

/ California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)

For about half an hour, Marguerite Casillas broke the spell cast by speakers discussing transcription factors, recombinant DNA, and other scientific breakthroughs.   She reminded an audience of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral scientists at a California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) trainee networking conference what their work is ultimately about.   "Behind every sample, every data point is a … Continue reading Marguerite Casillas gives patients a voice to make science stronger

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CAR T-cell therapy and how it’s used at CIRM 

/ California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)

By Holly Alyssa MacCormick  The human body is remarkably adept at defending itself from harmful cells and foreign substances, but sometimes it needs a little help. One way that scientists boost the immune system is through a form of genetic engineering known as chimeric antigen receptor, or CAR T-cell therapy. This therapy is currently used to treat certain cancers, but it may soon be used to treat other diseases as well. The biology behind CAR T-cell therapy  T-cells are a special type of immune cell that works as a sentinel in the … Continue reading CAR T-cell therapy and how it’s used at CIRM 

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How patient advocates help advance profound autism research

/ California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)

By Holly Alyssa MacCormick Some of the biggest advances in autism research have come from a unique and dedicated group—the families and patient advocates who live with autism every day. Matthew State, MD, PhD, chief scientific advisor for the Aligning Research to Impact Autism (ARIA) initiative and chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the … Continue reading How patient advocates help advance profound autism research

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Summer of science for these CIRM students

/ California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)

In a summer doubleheader, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) hosted back-to-back conferences over two weekends for hundreds of aspiring California student scientists.  Together, these events highlight the pipeline of homegrown talent that will shape the next decade of stem cell and gene therapy breakthroughs in California. California voters invested in regenerative medicine not just to … Continue reading Summer of science for these CIRM students