How CIRM’s high school internship program inspired this scientist’s career path 

Photos courtesy of Rashi Ranjan Each year, interns and trainees from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) education and training programs celebrate achievements, whether that’s making new discoveries in their cell and gene therapy research or advancing to the next phase of their professional journey.   This summer, Rashi Ranjan—a former SPARK high school intern—is … Continue reading How CIRM’s high school internship program inspired this scientist’s career path 

[VIDEO] Igniting innovation: How CIRM is bringing new and diverse perspectives in regenerative medicine 

CIRM has produced videos highlighting the experiences of participants from our educational and training programs. At the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), we are passionate about catalyzing growth in regenerative medicine while championing inclusivity. One of CIRM’s strategic goals is to build a diverse and skilled workforce that represents the rich tapestry of California's … Continue reading [VIDEO] Igniting innovation: How CIRM is bringing new and diverse perspectives in regenerative medicine 

Former CIRM Bridges Intern Receives Rising Black Scientist Award

Photo Credit: California State University, San Marcos. Cal State San Marcos cellular and molecular biology student and former California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Bridges intern Kevin Brown Jr. has been awarded the Rising Black Scientist Award from the journal Cell Press, Cell Signaling Technology (CST), and the Elsevier Foundation. Brown was selected from a pool … Continue reading Former CIRM Bridges Intern Receives Rising Black Scientist Award

Celebrating Black Joy and Spreading Awareness 

The streets of Oakland were alive with vibrant colors, infectious energy, and a powerful sense of community as the 2024 Black Joy Parade took center stage on Sunday, February 25.  Black Joy Parade-goers with colorful noisemakers walking down Franklin and 19th St. The Black Joy Parade is a yearly celebration of the Black community and … Continue reading Celebrating Black Joy and Spreading Awareness 

CIRM’s Annual SPARK Conference Showcases the Trailblazers of Tomorrow

More than 110 student scientists from around California showcased their enthusiasm, passion and “spark” for regenerative medicine and stem cell research at this year’s annual CIRM SPARK Conference.   Hosted by Cedars Sinai from Aug. 8-9 in Los Angeles, this year’s event showcased the extraordinary potential of high school students who are poised to become the … Continue reading CIRM’s Annual SPARK Conference Showcases the Trailblazers of Tomorrow

Meshing a passion for medicine with stem cell research

Kevin Brown is an adventurer at heart. He was a pre-med student when he found a unique way to combine his passion for medicine in neuroscience with his natural inclination to explore and discover through scientific research. A 2022 graduate of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine’s (CIRM) Bridges to Stem Cell Research and Therapy … Continue reading Meshing a passion for medicine with stem cell research

High school SPARK intern presents stem cell research to academic audience 

Earlier this year, CIRM welcomed many energetic and enthusiastic high school students at the 2022 SPARK Program annual conference in Oakland. The SPARK program is one of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine’s (CIRM) many programs dedicated to building a diverse and highly-skilled workforce to support the growing regenerative medicine economy right here in California.    … Continue reading High school SPARK intern presents stem cell research to academic audience 

A timeless message about stem cells

Dr. Daniel Kota The world of stem cell research is advancing rapidly, with new findings and discoveries seemingly every week. And yet some things that we knew years ago are still every bit as relevant today as they were then. Take for example a TEDx talk by Dr. Daniel Kota, a stem cell researcher and … Continue reading A timeless message about stem cells

Why the future of regenerative medicine depends on students getting a living wage

The headline in the journal Nature was intended to grab attention and it definitely did that. It read: ‘The scandal of researchers paid less than a living wage’ The rest of the article built on that saying “The cost-of-living crisis is a fundamental threat for PhD scholars and early-career researchers. They need to be paid … Continue reading Why the future of regenerative medicine depends on students getting a living wage

CIRM Board Approves Funding for New Clinical Trial Targeting Brain Tumors

The governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded almost $12 million to carry out a clinical trial targeting brain tumors. This brings the total number of CIRM funded clinical trials to 83.   $11,999,984 was awarded to Dr. Jana Portnow at the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope. They are using Neural stem … Continue reading CIRM Board Approves Funding for New Clinical Trial Targeting Brain Tumors