The Parkinson’s Institute in Sunnyvale not only carries out CIRM-funded research into therapies for Parkinson’s disease (you can see a list of their awards here), but they are also training the next generation of researchers to continue that work in the future. They’ve partnered with the San Jose State University CIRM-funded Bridges program to provide … Continue reading CIRM Bridges students at Parkinson’s Institute get job training, experience

We are rolling out our 2011 Annual Report stories throughout March. The full report will be posted online and available for download later this month. Each year in our Annual Report we highlight some of the patients and scientists who represent diseases that are the focus of CIRM awards. This year one of our stories … Continue reading 2011 Annual Report: Finding a cure for sickle cell disease

We are rolling out our 2011 Annual Report stories throughout March. Many of these stories feature multimedia material such as a video that we are releasing today alongside a story about diabetes research. The full report will be posted online and available for download later this month. Todd Dubnicoff is CIRM’s videographer and video editor. … Continue reading 2011 Annual Report: Toward a stem cell therapy for #diabetes

We are rolling out our 2011 Annual Report stories throughout March. The full report will be posted online and available for download later this month. Each year in our Annual Report we highlight some of the patients and scientists who represent diseases that are the focus of CIRM awards. This year one of our stories … Continue reading 2011 Annual Report: Spotlight on Autism

Last week the Buck Institute for Age Research in Novato, CA held a symposium on stem cell research and aging, which CIRM helped sponsor. The Buck Institute has received more than $36 million in grants from CIRM, including awards to researchers working toward stem cell therapies for Parkinson’s disease.Benjamin Blackwell, a research associate at Buck … Continue reading Stem Cell Research and Aging Symposium Highlights

Two teams of CIRM-funded researchers are working toward what they hope will be a functional cure for HIV infection.These groups are the focus of our initial annual report story, which you can read here. That story quotes CIRM governing board member Jeff Sheehy, who is a long-time HIV/AIDS advocate:"I'm incredibly optimistic. I don't think we're … Continue reading CIRM 2011 Annual Report: A Functional Cure for HIV

Each month CIRM President Alan Trounson gives his perspective on recently published papers he thinks will be valuable in moving the field of stem cell research forward. This month’s report, along with an archive of past reports, is available on the CIRM website.I am very proud that two of the articles this month’s report discusses … Continue reading Guest blogger Alan Trounson — February’s stem cell research highlights

Most years there is no February 29, and most of the time it might feel like there is little or no help for people with rare diseases. That’s what makes leap day the perfect day to think about those roughly 7,000 diseases that each affect fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. at any time. … Continue reading A rare day for raising rare disease awareness

Yesterday Ellen Feigal, CIRM’s Senior VP of R&D spoke on The HD View with Melissa Biliardi, who is a caregiver and advocate for her son who has Juvenile Huntington’s Disease. You can listen to that hour interview here. Feigal started by talking about what is unique about CIRM, saying:It’s the transformative nature of CIRM’s mission … Continue reading Ellen Feigal discusses CIRM’s Huntington’s Disease research

On Valentine's Day, Pat Brennan of the Orange County Register visited the home of CIRM grantees Brian Cummings and Aileen Anderson in Irvine. In addition to sharing a life, the couple also shares a research effort to develop a stem cell-based therapy for spinal cord injury. Their combined work has been funded in part with … Continue reading CIRM grantees married to their work, spinal cord injury cure