written by Holly Alyssa MacCormick The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) helped fund a clinical trial that involved an experimental stem cell treatment for a frequently paralyzing form of spina bifida. Today, several of those babies are now able to walk and run unassisted.Babies with severe spina bifida are often treated with surgery after … Continue reading Closer to Cures: Diana Farmer discusses clinical trials for spina bifida
cures
Patient Advocacy is its own reward
It’s always nice to be told you are doing a good job. It’s even nicer when it’s unexpected. That’s certainly the case when we, the Communications Team at the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, found out we’d been named as a finalist for the Patient Advocacy Award (non-profit category) as part of the Phacilitate Advanced … Continue reading Patient Advocacy is its own reward
Jackie Ward, from our house to the White House
Jackie Ward, PhD. Photo courtesy of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke It's always fun to meet someone early in their career and watch them grow, 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 Jackie Ward, from our house to the White House
CIRM Builds Out World Class Team With 5 New hires
Kevin Marks, CIRM's new General Counsel. Photo courtesy Modern-Counsel.com Following the passage of Proposition 14 CIRM has hired five new employees to help increase the team’s ability to respond to new challenges and responsibilities. Prop 14, which was approved by voters in November 2020, gives CIRM $5.5 billion in new funding. Those funds mean CIRM … Continue reading CIRM Builds Out World Class Team With 5 New hires
Hitting our goals: regulatory reform
Way, way back in 2015 – seems like a lifetime ago doesn’t it – the team at CIRM sat down and planned out our Big 6 goals for the next five years. The end result was a Strategic Plan that was bold, ambitious and set us on course to do great things or kill ourselves … Continue reading Hitting our goals: regulatory reform
Inspiring new documentary about stem cell research
Poster for the documentary "Ending Disease" 2020 has been, to say the very least, a difficult and challenging year for all of us. But while the focus of the world has, understandably, been on the coronavirus there was also some really promising advances in stem cell research. Those advances are captured in a great new … Continue reading Inspiring new documentary about stem cell research
Stem Cell Agency celebrates 50 clinical trials with patient #1
Yesterday the CIRM Board approved funding for our 50th clinical trial (you can read about that here) It was an historic moment for us and to celebrate we decided to go back in history and hear from the very first person to be treated in a CIRM-funded clinical trial. Rich Lajara was treated in the … Continue reading Stem Cell Agency celebrates 50 clinical trials with patient #1
How small talk led to a big break; a summer internship at CIRM
At CIRM, California's Stem Cell Agency, we are fortunate to work with some amazing people. This summer we added another name that list when Melissa Cairos joined us for an internship. Melissa is now on to the next part of her adventure, as a policy wonk in Washington DC., but before she left we asked … Continue reading How small talk led to a big break; a summer internship at CIRM
Using laughter to help find a treatment for Alzheimer’s
In 1983, when President Ronald Reagan designated an annual National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month fewer than two million Americans had Alzheimer’s. Today, that number is close to 5.5 million and estimates suggest it will rise to 16 million by 2050. There are no treatments. No cure. But around the globe people are working hard to … Continue reading Using laughter to help find a treatment for Alzheimer’s
Breaking down barriers to advance stem cell therapies – the view from the Vatican conference
All hands were on deck at the “Unite to Cure” conference, organized by the Cura Foundation and the Vatican Pontifical Council, and held at the Vatican on April 26-28. Religious leaders, scientists, physicians, philanthropists, industry leaders, government, academic leaders and members of the entertainment industry gathered to discuss how to improve human health and to … Continue reading Breaking down barriers to advance stem cell therapies – the view from the Vatican conference