CIRM Board gives thumbs up to training and treatment programs

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CIRM Bridges student discusses her poster presentation

The CIRM Board approved a new training program called COMPASS (Creating Opportunities through Mentorship and Partnership Across Stem Cell Science). The program fills a critical need for skilled practitioners who can contribute at every stage of translating science to medicine.

Next-generation scientists

COMPASS aims to prepare a diverse group of undergraduates for careers in regenerative medicine by creating recruitment and support systems that identify and foster talent within historically underrepresented communities. The program combines hands‑on research with mentorship to help students launch successful careers. It also promotes awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion among trainees, mentors, and program partners.

At CIRM, funding research is our core mission, but our education programs are the “jam.” However, the Board approved investing $58.22 million over five years for up to 20 applications as part of its broader push to train the next generation of stem cell and gene therapy scientists.

CIRM also funds several programs, such as our SPARK and Bridges internships, but they can’t cover everything.

“This new program highlights our growing commitment to creating a diverse workforce, one that taps into communities that have been historically under-represented in the biomedical sciences,” says Dr. Maria T. Millan, President and CEO of CIRM. “The COVID-19 pandemic made it clear that the benefits of scientific discovery are not always accessible to communities that most need them. CIRM is committed to tackling these challenges by creating a diverse and dedicated workforce that can meet the technical demands of taking novel treatment ideas and making them a reality.”

Expanding a California clinical network

The Board also approved a new $80 million concept plan to expand the CIRM Alpha Stem Cell Clinic Network. The Network clinics are all in top California medical centers with the experience and expertise to deliver high-quality, FDA-authorized stem cell clinical trials to patients.

The Network currently includes five Alpha Clinics: UC San Diego; UCLA/UC Irvine; City of Hope; UCSF; and UC Davis. Since 2015, they have hosted more than 105 clinical trials, enrolled more than 750 patients, and generated more than $95 million in industry contracts. 

Each award will provide up to $8 million in funding over a five-year period. The clinics will have to include:

  • A demonstrated ability to offer stem cell and gene therapies to patients as part of a clinical trial.
  • Programs to support the career development of doctors, nurses, researchers, and other medical professionals essential to regenerative medicine clinical trials.
  • A commitment to data sharing and meeting CIRM’s requirements addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion and meeting the needs of California’s diverse patient population.

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