Dr. Vito Imbasciani was sworn in as the new Chair of the Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) at its March meeting. Imbasciani (pictured above at left) was elected to the six-year term at CIRM’s January Board meeting. He will replace outgoing chair Jonathan Thomas, who has served in the position since 2011. “My experience … Continue reading CIRM welcomes new Chair, bids farewell to Art Torres and Jonathan Thomas
ICOC Board Meetings
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
Judy Chou, Ph.D., Appointed to Governing Board of California’s Stem Cell & Gene Therapy Agency
Judy Chou, Ph.D. Judy Chou, Ph.D. has been appointed to the Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee (ICOC), the governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). Dr. Chou is the President, CEO and a member of the Board of Directors of AltruBio, Inc. a clinical stage biotech company that is focused on developing novel … Continue reading Judy Chou, Ph.D., Appointed to Governing Board of California’s Stem Cell & Gene Therapy Agency
State Stem Cell & Gene Therapy Agency Sets up Support Program to Help Patients Participate in Clinical Trials
For many patients battling deadly diseases, getting access to a clinical trial can be life-saving, but it can also be very challenging. Today the governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) approved a concept plan to make it financially and logistically easier for patients to take part in CIRM-funded clinical trials. The … Continue reading State Stem Cell & Gene Therapy Agency Sets up Support Program to Help Patients Participate in Clinical Trials
Stem Cell Agency Invests $46 Million in New Education Program
CIRM Bridges students 2022. The CIRM Board approved funding for a program to help even more students advance a career in science. The governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has approved $46,076,430 to invest in its newest education pillar- the COMPASS (Creating Opportunities through Mentorship and Partnership Across Stem cell Science) … Continue reading Stem Cell Agency Invests $46 Million in New Education Program
Stem Cell Agency funds clinical trial targeting scarred urethras
A urethral stricture is scarring of the tube that carries urine out of the body. If left untreated it can be intensely painful and lead to kidney stones and infections. That's why the governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is investing more than $3.8 million in a Phase 1 clinical trial … Continue reading Stem Cell Agency funds clinical trial targeting scarred urethras
First patient dosed in clinical trial for a drug-resistant form of epilepsy
Tablet BM47753. Neo-Babylonian Period. Courtesy of the British Museum, London. Epilepsy seems to have been a problem for people for as long as people have been around. The first recorded mention of it is on a 4000-year-old Akkadian tablet found in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq). The tablet includes a description of a person with "his … Continue reading First patient dosed in clinical trial for a drug-resistant form of epilepsy
Stem Cell Agency Board Invests in 19 Discovery Research Programs Targeting Cancers, Heart Disease and Other Disorders
THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Dr. Judy Shizuru, Stanford University While stem cell and gene therapy research has advanced dramatically in recent years, there are still many unknowns and many questions remaining about how best to use these approaches in developing therapies. That’s why the governing Board of the California Institute … Continue reading Stem Cell Agency Board Invests in 19 Discovery Research Programs Targeting Cancers, Heart Disease and Other Disorders
The long road to developing a therapy for epilepsy
THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Good science takes time. That’s an important guiding phrase for researchers looking to develop new therapies. But it’s also a frustrating reality for patients who are waiting for something to help them now. That point was driven home last week when the governing board of the … Continue reading The long road to developing a therapy for epilepsy
Stem cell agency invests in therapy using killer cells to target colorectal, breast and ovarian cancers
While there have been some encouraging advances in treating cancer in recent decades, there are still many cancers that either resist treatment or recur after treatment. Today the governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) approved investing in a therapy targeting some of these hard-to-treat tumors. BioEclipse Therapeutics Inc. was awarded nearly … Continue reading Stem cell agency invests in therapy using killer cells to target colorectal, breast and ovarian cancers
The Stem Cellar 