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." Medication not always effective Justin had to give up … Continue reading A patient’s journey with an epilepsy stem cell therapy
Research & Science
CIRM funds science research from the discovery stage through all phases of clinical trials. We highlight new findings in gene and cell therapies, as well as technology and related science news.
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 and most recently by focusing on gaps in neurological disease. A few different factors are limiting biomedical research funding across the United States. In addition to recent … Continue reading Filling gaps in federal research funding with a focus on neurological diseases
How Patient-Derived Cells Are Changing ALS Research
Research Investigator Julia Kaye, PhD, stands for a portrait in a lab at Gladstone Institutes. Photo courtesy of Gladstone Institutes. Before there can be any therapies for disease, scientists need to understand what goes wrong in the first place. Are cells lost that could be replaced? Is there too much or too little of a … Continue reading How Patient-Derived Cells Are Changing ALS Research
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
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. Dr. Zaia was a visionary virologist, gene therapy trailblazer, and esteemed leader at City of Hope. He dedicated over four decades to advancing regenerative medicine. He left behind a profound impact on HIV research, pediatric … Continue reading Honoring Dr. John Zaia: A Legacy of Science, Leadership, and Kindness
Luxa Biotechnology’s CIRM-funded Dry AMD Therapy Milestone
Credit: Shutterstock The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation to a promising new treatment for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD)—a leading cause of vision loss. The therapy is being developed by Luxa Biotechnology and supported in part by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). What RMAT Designation Means RMAT designation … Continue reading Luxa Biotechnology’s CIRM-funded Dry AMD Therapy Milestone
The Link Between Air Pollution and Autism
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is supporting innovative research into neuro diseases, including a project examining how air pollution may contribute to autism. Through the Research using Multidisciplinary, Innovative approaches in Neuro Diseases (ReMIND) program, Stuart Lipton, MD, PhD, and co-investigators Tomo Nakamura, PhD, John Yates, PhD, Marisa Roberto, PhD, and Nik Schork, … Continue reading 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 A UC San Francisco research team funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is using genetic sequencing and AI to identify and treat … 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
Exploring Gene Therapy Treatments for Autism
Principal investigator Alex Pollen, PhD, with his co-investigators and team of researchers. A UC San Francisco–led research team, supported by a $12.2 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), is exploring potential gene therapy for treatments autism as well as other neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. The project is … Continue reading Exploring Gene Therapy Treatments for Autism