When Mercedes Paredes was a young clinical fellow at the University of California, San Francisco, she knew she wanted to spend her career better understanding the origins of – and possible treatments for – neuropsychiatric diseases. She didn’t know how to get started.

That’s where a training grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) came in. 

After finishing medical school, Paredes needed time in the lab to develop a research direction and qualify for most funding. In 2012, UCSF received a CIRM award to support young researchers in regenerative medicine like Paredes.

Paredes received one of these grants, launching her into a career where she now runs her own lab and fulfills her goal of studying neuropsychiatric diseases. She’s also paying it forward by training a new generation of CIRM-funded students who will be the regenerative medicine workforce of tomorrow. Along the way, Paredes learned directly from parents and families what it means to live with these diseases.

“There’s a direct through line from that CIRM funding to the work I’m doing now modeling diseases, understanding how a disease manifests during development, and learning about biological processes in ways that are clinically relevant,” she said.

Full circle

Since those early training grants, CIRM has supported more than 4,600 students. Many now work as scientists, lab staff, clinical trial administrators, and other professionals who develop and deliver regenerative medicine therapies in California and beyond. To support this pipeline, CIRM created four training programs for high school, undergraduate, graduate, and post‑graduate trainees.

Paredes recently spoke at a conference that brought together more than 300 current CIRM trainees. “This is full circle for me,” she told the students.

“I was a CIRM scholar during my fellowship, and it is a privilege to see how this community has grown and the amazing work it continues to do.”

Many of the students Paredes mentors come from the San Francisco State University Bridges to Stem Cell Research and Therapy program. The program prepares undergraduate and master’s students for careers in stem cell research and therapy development. Her former students are now in graduate programs or exploring careers in communications and outreach, still supporting California’s regenerative medicine ecosystem.

“You don’t get great science without well‑trained people,” Paredes said of the trainee programs. She also supports students pursuing careers outside academic science. “We need skilled, motivated people around the scientist. I love building both the science and the intellectual ecosystem.”

Bringing patient voices into research

With her CIRM training grant, Paredes joined Arturo Alvarez‑Buylla’s lab, which also received CIRM support. His team worked with embryonic stem cells and generated neurons that calm nearby neurons. UCSF collaborators using the same cells later founded Neurona, now running a CIRM‑funded epilepsy trial.

Paredes currently holds a CIRM ReMIND award to study two neuropsychiatric diseases caused by small DNA deletions. These conditions, which can cause autism‑like symptoms, appear in children. She works closely with families to understand their experiences and ensure patient‑driven goals shape the research. As a Spanish speaker, Paredes actively engages Spanish‑speaking communities across California.

“Everyone can contribute to the scientific discussion,” Paredes said. “People are really eager to contribute. I’ve had parents say that they feel hurt or confused that they weren’t previously asked to participate in the conversation.”