CIRM, California’s Stem Cell Agency, reached a major milestone by funding its 100th clinical trial. At the February ICOC meeting, the board approved five new trials in Parkinson’s disease, autoimmune disorders, cancers, and other conditions, bringing the total to 103.
Jon Thomas thanked Californians for their trust and support as CIRM advances regenerative medicine.
Making an impact
Voters backed this mission in 2004 by passing Proposition 71, creating the first state‑funded stem cell institute. Proposition 14 extended that support and ensured CIRM’s work could continue.
CIRM funded its first clinical trial in 2011, the first to use embryonic stem cell‑derived cells. Since then, billions in grants have supported projects targeting many conditions, including arthritis, Alzheimer’s, cancer, rare childhood diseases, heart disease, stroke, ALS, HIV, vision loss, brain cancers, and COVID‑19.
Cory Nicholas, CEO of Neurona Therapeutics, said CIRM supported NRTX‑1001 from discovery through clinical development. He noted that the therapy is now being tested in a Phase 1/2 trial for drug‑resistant temporal lobe epilepsy.
He added that CIRM’s support shows the agency is fulfilling its mission to advance regenerative stem cell therapies and deliver transformative benefits for patients and families.
Photo Courtesy of OHSU/Christine Torres Hicks
Progress
CIRM continues to leave an increasing, indelible mark on the fields of stem cell and gene therapy research, actively integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) values into clinical trial applications. All applicants for clinical trial funding at CIRM must submit a DEI plan showing how they will engage and work with underserved populations to include clinical trial participants from these communities. The plans also must outline the applicant’s strategies to foster cultural sensitivity within their teams and partner institutions. The requirement is designed to improve the enrollment of participants from underrepresented racial and ethnic populations in clinical trials.
Beyond funding clinical trials, CIRM continues to push the boundaries of the regenerative medicine field, implementing new programs in manufacturing, data sharing, Community Care Centers of Excellence, and the ReMIND initiative, a vital new program that aims to accelerate discoveries that advance our understanding of Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders.
To learn more about CIRM’s clinical trial research funding, explore this page on our website. For more about diverse representation in clinical trials, see our blog, “Why diversity in clinical trials is essential”.