Bone marrow transplant For children born with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) life can be very challenging. SCID means they have no functioning immune system, so even a simple infection can prove life threatening. Left untreated, children with SCID often die in the first few years of life. There are stem cell/gene therapies funded by the … Continue reading Fast Track Designation for a therapy making transplants safer for children with a fatal immune disorder
A pioneering couple uproot their lives to help their baby
Our 2021-22 Annual Report is now online. It's filled with information about the work we have done over the last year (we are on a fiscal calendar year from July 1 - June 30), the people who have helped us do that work, and some of the people who have benefited from that work. We … Continue reading A pioneering couple uproot their lives to help their baby
A newfound passion for stem cell research
All her life, Madison Waterlander knew that she wanted to be a part of the medical field. But soon after graduating from the University of Hawaii with her undergraduate degree, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. It was during this time that she noticed how crucial biomedical research was in the medical field and lives of patients, and … Continue reading A newfound passion for stem cell research
The race to cure sickle cell disease
September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, a time to refocus our efforts to find new treatments, even a cure, for people with sickle cell disease. Until we get those, CIRM remains committed to doing everything we can to reduce the stigma and bias that surrounds it. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a rare, inherited … Continue reading The race to cure sickle cell disease
Mourning the death of Susan Solomon
Susan L. Solomon, Photo courtesy of NYSCF We were saddened to learn today of the death of Susan Solomon, the CEO and co-founder of the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF), a non-profit organization that supports stem cell research around the world. As CEO, Ms. Solomon raised over $400M for stem cell research, helping to … Continue reading Mourning the death of Susan Solomon
CIRM-funded stem cell-gene therapy shows promise in ALS safety trial
Senior author of the study Clive Svendsen, PhD (center) With funding support from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), Cedars-Sinai investigators have developed an investigational therapy using support cells and a protective protein that can be delivered past the blood-brain barrier. This combined stem cell and gene therapy can potentially protect diseased motor neurons … Continue reading CIRM-funded stem cell-gene therapy shows promise in ALS safety trial
How stem cells helped Veronica fight retinitis pigmentosa and regain her vision
Veronica and Elliott Growing up Veronica McDougall thought everyone saw the world the way she did; blurry, slightly out-of-focus and with tunnel vision. As she got older her sight got worse and even the strongest prescription glasses didn’t help. When she was 15 her brother tried teaching her to drive. One night she got into … Continue reading How stem cells helped Veronica fight retinitis pigmentosa and regain her vision
Stem Cell Agency Invests $46 Million in New Education Program
CIRM Bridges students 2022. The CIRM Board approved funding for a program to help even more students advance a career in science. The governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has approved $46,076,430 to invest in its newest education pillar- the COMPASS (Creating Opportunities through Mentorship and Partnership Across Stem cell Science) … Continue reading Stem Cell Agency Invests $46 Million in New Education Program
A better, faster, more effective way to edit genes
Clinical fellow Brian Shy talks with postdoctoral scholar Tori Yamamoto in the Marson Lab at Gladstone Institutes on June 8th, 2022. Photo courtesy Gladstone Institutes. For years scientists have been touting the potential of CRISPR, a gene editing tool that allows you to target a specific mutation and either cut it out or replace it … Continue reading A better, faster, more effective way to edit genes
From our house to the White House. Kinda
Jackie Ward, PhD. Photo courtesy National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke It's always fun to meet someone early in their career and see how they grow and evolve and take on new challenges. I first met Jackie Ward when she received a training grant from CIRM while she studied for her PhD at the … Continue reading From our house to the White House. Kinda
The Stem Cellar 