Early-stage research could—one day—benefit many people living with genetic diseases

Written by Holly Alyssa MacCormick Image Credit: Audrey Davidow-Calvin outside Wanting the best for your child is a universal experience, and Audrey Davidow wanted her baby to have a bright future full of possibility. But in March of 2012, her 13-month-old son Calvin was diagnosed with a rare disease called Pitt Hopkins Syndrome, and she … Continue reading Early-stage research could—one day—benefit many people living with genetic diseases

A life of service: A conversation with CIRM Board Chair Vito Imbasciani

Written by Holly Alyssa MacCormick If you ask Vito Imbasciani to tell you about his career, you won’t get a simple answer, but you will get a great story about service, both to his country and the people of California. Imbasciani, PhD, MD, FACS, Colonel (ret.), is the chair of the board for the California … Continue reading A life of service: A conversation with CIRM Board Chair Vito Imbasciani

Explore how CIRM is advancing California’s scientific vision 

Our 2025 Annual Report, Looking Forward: Advancing California’s Scientific Vision, is here. This year’s report captures a future-focused mission that highlights progress, momentum, and long-term impact. It reflects California’s leadership in science, evokes hope and possibility, and embraces continual advancement in regenerative medicine. Inside the report, you'll find:  Powerful Voices: Patients, families, and researchers share … Continue reading Explore how CIRM is advancing California’s scientific vision 

A conversation with CIRM board member Yael Wyte

Written by Holly Alyssa MacCormick Yael Wyte knows all too well how difficult it can be to have or care for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease—she has been working with and advocating for people with Alzheimer's Disease for more than 20 years. Earlier this year, Wyte joined the board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine … Continue reading A conversation with CIRM board member Yael Wyte

Fueling the Brain: Exploring the connection between metabolism and neurodevelopment

Top left to right: Aparna Bhaduri, PhD; Heather Christofk, PhD; Harley Kornblum, PhD; William Zeiger, MD, PhDBottom Left to right: Elizabeth Crouch, PhD; Mohammed Mostajo-Radji, PhD; Carrie Beardon, PhD; Michael Zito, MD As part of our goal of accelerating discoveries and therapies for central nervous system disorders, in 2023, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine … Continue reading Fueling the Brain: Exploring the connection between metabolism and neurodevelopment

“An awesome responsibility”: A conversation with CIRM board member Kim Barrett

Written by Holly Alyssa MacCormick It’s not every day that you get to contribute to something that could help save a life, but when Kim Barrett joined the board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), that’s exactly what happened. Barrett is a research physiologist. For 36 years she studied the cells of the … Continue reading “An awesome responsibility”: A conversation with CIRM board member Kim Barrett

CIRM COMPASS scholar Maya Singh shares how the program helped paved the way for her career as a physician

Written by Holly Alyssa MacCormick Image Credit: Maya Singh Many paths can lead to a career as a physician. For undergraduate Maya Singh, the road to becoming a doctor begins at a laboratory bench in the University of California, Berkeley. “I believe that being a part of research is a huge step toward being a … Continue reading CIRM COMPASS scholar Maya Singh shares how the program helped paved the way for her career as a physician

Winner of Beast Games becomes champion for his son’s rare disease

Written by Holly Alyssa MacCormick You can do a lot with $10 million. Yet, when Jeffrey Randall Allen won the largest prize in game show history on Amazon Prime Video’s Beast Games there was only one thing he wanted to spend his $10 million on—research that might help find a cure for his son’s rare … Continue reading Winner of Beast Games becomes champion for his son’s rare disease

Gene Therapy for Heart Failure: A Conversation with Eric Adler, MD

Image Credit: The Adler Lab at the University of California, San Diego In the fall of 2024, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) helped sponsor the Gene Therapy Initiative symposium in La Jolla, CA. While there, CIRM staff caught up with a few CIRM grantees who are working on gene therapy approaches to treating … Continue reading Gene Therapy for Heart Failure: A Conversation with Eric Adler, MD

Gene therapies for Friedreich’s Ataxia: A conversation with Liz Soragni, PhD

Liz Soragni, PhD, Director of Research at the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance In the fall of 2024, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) helped sponsor the Gene Therapy Initiative symposium in La Jolla, CA. While there, CIRM staff caught up with a few CIRM grantees who are working on gene therapy approaches to treating … Continue reading Gene therapies for Friedreich’s Ataxia: A conversation with Liz Soragni, PhD