CIRM Pursues “Prudent Path” Forward with Genome Editing Technologies

CIRM’s mission is to accelerate the delivery of stem cell treatments to patients with unmet medical needs. In pursuit of this mission CIRM consistently supports studies designed to apply the latest advances in research and medicine. For example, CIRM has supported the development some of the first therapies utilizing human embryonic stem cells. Another example … Continue reading CIRM Pursues “Prudent Path” Forward with Genome Editing Technologies

Faster, better, more efficient. Challenging? That too. An update on CIRM 2.0.

Changing direction is never easy. The greater the change the greater the likelihood you’ll have to make adjustments and do some fine-tuning along the way to make sure you get it right. On January 1st of this year we made a big change, launching CIRM 2.0. Our President and CEO Dr. C. Randal Mills called … Continue reading Faster, better, more efficient. Challenging? That too. An update on CIRM 2.0.

Two for 2.0 and Two for us

It began as an ambitious idea; yesterday it became a reality when the CIRM Board approved two projects under CIRM 2.0, one of them a Phase 3 clinical trial for a deadly form of skin cancer. Just to recap, CIRM 2.0 was introduced by Dr. C. Randal Mills when he took over as President and … Continue reading Two for 2.0 and Two for us

Stem cells, Darth Vader and the high cost of hope and hype

It’s not very often that you get stories about stem cells that mention Darth Vader, Obi Wan Kenobi, the Pittsburgh Steelers and a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, but those references all popped up in a recent flurry of articles that are shining – yet again – the light on many of the unproven, unregulated uses … Continue reading Stem cells, Darth Vader and the high cost of hope and hype

Taking a step back, to move forward

Progress doesn’t always come in straight lines. Particularly when you are a pioneer in a whole new field of medicine like stem cells where virtually everything you do is being done for the first time, and the therapies you are developing are going to be tested in people for the first time. That’s why everything … Continue reading Taking a step back, to move forward

How stimulating! A new way to repair broken bones

For those of us who live in earthquake country the recent devastating quakes in Nepal are a reminder, as if we needed one, of the danger and damage these temblors can cause. Many of those injured in the quake suffered severe bone injuries – broken legs, crushed limbs etc. Repairing those injuries is going to … Continue reading How stimulating! A new way to repair broken bones

A hopeful sight: therapy for vision loss cleared for clinical trial

Rosalinda Barrero says people often thought she was rude, or a snob, because of the way she behaved, pretending not to see them or ignoring them on the street. The truth is Rosalinda has retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a nasty disease, one that often attacks early in life and slowly destroys a person’s vision. Rosalinda’s eyes … Continue reading A hopeful sight: therapy for vision loss cleared for clinical trial

Using stem cells to mend a broken heart and winning $6,000 to boot

It’s no secret that the members of the CIRM blog team are all big fans of scientists who are good public communicators. We feel that the more scientists talk about their research, the better the public will understand the importance of science and it’s ability to help them or someone they love. So on Monday … Continue reading Using stem cells to mend a broken heart and winning $6,000 to boot

Charting a new, faster way to fund science and help patients

Change is never easy. In fact, sometimes it can be downright hard. But change is also essential if you want to grow, to get faster and better. When we launched CIRM 2.0 we set out to produce a better, faster, more effective and efficient way to deliver stem cell therapies to patients with unmet medical … Continue reading Charting a new, faster way to fund science and help patients

Pioneering treatments: planning first-in-human stem cell clinical trials

Sometimes the reason for the most complex of projects can be boiled down to the most simple of phrases. At a meeting last week to help plan for our Alpha Stem Cell Clinic network there were lots of great presentations and discussions about the role of the network, how to structure it, what its goals … Continue reading Pioneering treatments: planning first-in-human stem cell clinical trials