Justin Graves diving by the Grand Cayman Islands In 2007, Justin Graves was working at a SCUBA shop in Louisville, Kentucky, when he had his first epileptic seizure. "SCUBA diving has just been something I've loved my whole life," he said. "My whole family loves it." Justin had to give up diving as well as … Continue reading Diving into a new era of treatment: A patient’s journey with an epilepsy stem cell therapy
Disease Areas
Filling gaps in federal research funding with a focus on neurological diseases
Over the past 20 years, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has supercharged research in California in ways that have often filled gaps in federal research funding. This has been true since CIRM was founded in 2004, and federal funding for embryonic stem cell research was extremely hard to come by. Now, given current … Continue reading Filling gaps in federal research funding with a focus on neurological diseases
CIRM awards $2.8 million to develop a gene therapy for rare neuromuscular disorders
Credit: Shutterstock The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) announced in January $100 million in funding for a broad range of projects, including four to support clinical programs. One of these was a $2.8 million award to Patricio Sepulveda, PhD, MBA, CEO of Amplo Biotechnology, Inc. That grant will support the development of a gene … Continue reading CIRM awards $2.8 million to develop a gene therapy for rare neuromuscular disorders
Breaking barriers in rare disease: A gene therapy transforms cystinosis treatment
A 12 year-old Kurt Gillenberg. Photo courtesy of Kurt Gillenberg. When Kurt Gillenberg was 10 months old, his parents knew something wasn’t right. But it wasn’t until he reached 18 months that they found a doctor at the University of California, San Diego, who diagnosed Kurt with cystinosis – a rare genetic, metabolic defect that … Continue reading Breaking barriers in rare disease: A gene therapy transforms cystinosis treatment
Advancing Heart Health: CIRM Funds Tenaya Therapeutics’ Gene Therapy Trial for ARVC
Histology of human cardiac muscle under microscope. Credit: Shutterstock The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) recently announced funding a series of projects spanning the earliest stages of research through to clinical trials. One of those projects was an $8 million award to Matthew Pollman, MD, MS, Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at Tenaya … Continue reading Advancing Heart Health: CIRM Funds Tenaya Therapeutics’ Gene Therapy Trial for ARVC
Honoring Dr. John Zaia: A Legacy of Science, Leadership, and Kindness
Photo Courtesy: City of Hope The scientific community lost a true pioneer with the passing of John A. Zaia, MD, a visionary virologist, gene therapy trailblazer, and esteemed leader at City of Hope. Dr. Zaia dedicated over four decades to advancing regenerative medicine, leaving a profound impact on HIV research, pediatric diseases, stem cell transplantation, … Continue reading Honoring Dr. John Zaia: A Legacy of Science, Leadership, and Kindness
FDA Grants RMAT Designation to Luxa Biotechnology’s CIRM-funded Dry AMD Therapy
Credit: Shutterstock The FDA has granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation for a project focused on vision loss that was funded in part by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). This designation is given to highly promising regenerative medicine therapies that treat serious or life-threatening diseases with the goal of accelerating the path … Continue reading FDA Grants RMAT Designation to Luxa Biotechnology’s CIRM-funded Dry AMD Therapy
Discovery Research into the Link Between Air Pollution and Autism
Infographic, provided by Dr. Liption and team, showcasing the link between air pollution and autism spectrum disorder As outlined in Proposition 14, one of the goals of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is to help accelerate discoveries that enhance our understanding of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. As part of this goal, CIRM … Continue reading Discovery Research into the Link Between Air Pollution and Autism
Using Genetic Sequencing and AI to Identify and Treat Schizophrenia
Top left to right: Tomasz Nowakowski, PhD, and Nevan Krogan, PhD Bottom left to right: Aparna Bhaduri, PhD; Matt State, PhD; Alice Ting, PhD; Trey Ideker, PhD; Willow Coyote-Maestas, PhD As outlined in Proposition 14, one of the goals of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is to help accelerate discoveries that enhance our … Continue reading Using Genetic Sequencing and AI to Identify and Treat Schizophrenia
How Discovery Research is Unlocking the DNA Behind Psychiatric Disorders
From top left to right: Xin Jin, PhD; Joseph Ecker, PhD; Rusty Gage, PhD Bottom left to right: Eran Mukamel, PhD and Maria Carol Marchetto, PhD As outlined in Proposition 14, one of the goals of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is to help accelerate discoveries that enhance our understanding of central nervous … Continue reading How Discovery Research is Unlocking the DNA Behind Psychiatric Disorders
The Stem Cellar 