The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation to two research projects funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). RMAT is a fast-track designation that can help speed up the development, review, and potential approval of treatments for serious or life-threatening diseases. The first RMAT designation … Continue reading Two CIRM-funded research projects receive RMAT designation from FDA
Industry News
Supporting a CAR-T cell trial for kidney cancer
Photo Credit: Allogene Therapeutics. Image of the ALLO-316 allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) awarded $15 million to Dr. John Le Gall and his team at Allogene Therapeutics. This funding will support the development of ALLO-316, an innovative anti-CD70 CAR-T cell product designed to treat metastatic clear cell renal cell … Continue reading Supporting a CAR-T cell trial for kidney cancer
CIRM welcomes new Chair, bids farewell to Art Torres and Jonathan Thomas
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
Dr. Vito Imbasciani elected as Chair of California stem cell agency
Dr. Vito Imbasciani will be the new Chair of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), the state agency created by voters in 2004 and funded again in 2020 to invest in stem cell and regenerative medicine research and treatments. At January’s Board meeting, the agency’s 35-member Governing Board elected Imbasciani to the six-year term, … Continue reading Dr. Vito Imbasciani elected as Chair of California stem cell agency
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
Stem Cell Agency Expands Industry Alliance Program to Accelerate Therapies
An ever-growing array of academic and industry resources are required to rapidly translate scientific discoveries and emerging technologies toward safe and effective regenerative medicine therapies for patients. To help, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is creating a network of Industry Resource Partners (IRP) that will make its unique resources available to help accelerate … Continue reading Stem Cell Agency Expands Industry Alliance Program to Accelerate Therapies
A big deal for type 1 diabetes
It’s not often you get excited talking about company mergers, but a deal announced today is something worth getting excited about, particularly if you have type 1 diabetes (T1D). Today Vertex announced it was buying ViaCyte for $320 million in cash. Why is that important? Because both companies are working on developing stem cell therapies … Continue reading A big deal for type 1 diabetes
Creating a ‘bespoke’ approach to rare diseases
THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Up until recently the word “bespoke” meant just one thing to me, a hand-made suit, customized and fitted to you. There’s a street in London, Saville Row, that specializes in these suits. They’re gorgeous. They’re also very expensive and so I thought I’d never have a … Continue reading Creating a ‘bespoke’ approach to rare diseases
It’s hard to be modest when people keep telling you how good you are
THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST I have a confession. Deep down I’m shallow. So when something I am part of is acknowledged as one of the best, I delight in it (my fellow bloggers Katie and Esteban also delight in it, I am just more shameless about letting everyone know.) And … Continue reading It’s hard to be modest when people keep telling you how good you are
Overcoming obstacles and advancing treatments to patients
THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST UC Davis GMP Manufacturing facility: Photo courtesy UC Davis When you are trying to do something that has never been done before, there are bound to be challenges to meet and obstacles to overcome. At the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) we are used to … Continue reading Overcoming obstacles and advancing treatments to patients
The Stem Cellar 