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. This has been true since CIRM was founded in 2004, and federal funding for embryonic stem cell research was extremely hard to come by. Now, given current … Continue reading Filling gaps in federal research funding with a focus on neurological diseases
20 Years of CIRM: From building the infrastructure to clinical trials
Twenty years ago, Californians voted in favor of Proposition 71, which allocated $3 billion to support stem cell research and created the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). In 2020, Proposition 14 passed, providing an additional $5.5 billion. CIRM will reflect on the past two decades, highlighting early research that has evolved into potential therapies, … Continue reading 20 Years of CIRM: From building the infrastructure to clinical trials
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
A CIRM Bridges student discovers a passion for engineering
CIRM Bridges student Esme Ruiz-Garcia Esmerelda “Esme” Ruiz-Garcia grew up in California in a Mexican-American family, where pursuing a career in healthcare is considered a family calling, with most of her relatives in the nursing and medical fields. “I’ve always loved science, but I was not that interested in the medical field itself,” said Esme. … Continue reading A CIRM Bridges student discovers a passion for engineering
CIRM awards $2.8 million to develop a gene therapy for rare neuromuscular disorders
Credit: Shutterstock The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) announced in January $100 million in funding for a broad range of projects, including four to support clinical programs. One of these was a $2.8 million award to Patricio Sepulveda, PhD, MBA, CEO of Amplo Biotechnology, Inc. That grant will support the development of a gene … Continue reading CIRM awards $2.8 million to develop a gene therapy for rare neuromuscular disorders
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
Advancing Heart Health: CIRM Funds Tenaya Therapeutics’ Gene Therapy Trial for ARVC
Histology of human cardiac muscle under microscope. Credit: Shutterstock The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) recently announced funding a series of projects spanning the earliest stages of research through to clinical trials. One of those projects was an $8 million award to Matthew Pollman, MD, MS, Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at Tenaya … Continue reading Advancing Heart Health: CIRM Funds Tenaya Therapeutics’ Gene Therapy Trial for ARVC
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, a visionary virologist, gene therapy trailblazer, and esteemed leader at City of Hope. Dr. Zaia dedicated over four decades to advancing regenerative medicine, leaving a profound impact on HIV research, pediatric diseases, stem cell transplantation, … Continue reading Honoring Dr. John Zaia: A Legacy of Science, Leadership, and Kindness
FDA Grants RMAT Designation to Luxa Biotechnology’s CIRM-funded Dry AMD Therapy
Credit: Shutterstock The FDA has granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation for a project focused on vision loss that was funded in part by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). This designation is given to highly promising regenerative medicine therapies that treat serious or life-threatening diseases with the goal of accelerating the path … Continue reading FDA Grants RMAT Designation to Luxa Biotechnology’s CIRM-funded Dry AMD Therapy
Bridging the Gap: CIRM Tackles Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Challenges
CIRM Manufacturing Network Symposium attendees. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is driving conversations and collaboration to address the manufacturing challenges of cell and gene therapies (CGT). CIRM hosted its inaugural Manufacturing Network Symposium in South San Francisco, bringing together more than 100 experts and stakeholders from the regenerative medicine field, including scientific leaders … Continue reading Bridging the Gap: CIRM Tackles Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Challenges
The Stem Cellar 