Written by Holly Alyssa MacCormick South San Francisco, CA, January 30, 2026 – As many as 1 in 10 people in the U.S. has a rare disease, many of which have no known cure. A new program by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) could change this by funding novel ways to develop multiple … Continue reading CIRM board supports a rare disease funding plan, administrative changes
ICOC Board Meeting
Dr. Vito Imbasciani elected Chair of CIRM
Dr. Vito Imbasciani elected Chair of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). Voters created CIRM in 2004 and renewed its funding in 2020 to advance stem cell and regenerative medicine research. Board Support At January’s meeting, the agency’s 35‑member Governing Board elected Imbasciani to a six‑year term. He succeeds Jonathan Thomas, who has served … Continue reading Dr. Vito Imbasciani elected Chair of CIRM
Using mini lungs to test potential COVID-19 therapies
Dr. Evan Snyder If someone told you they were working on lungs in a dish you might be forgiven for thinking that’s the worst idea for a new recipe you have ever heard of. But in the case of Dr. Evan Snyder and his team at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute it could be … Continue reading Using mini lungs to test potential COVID-19 therapies
Stem Cell Agency invests in stem cell therapies targeting sickle cell disease and solid cancers
Today CIRM’s governing Board invested almost $10 million in stem cell research for sickle cell disease and patients with solid cancer tumors. Clinical trial for sickle cell disease City of Hope was awarded $5.74 million to launch a Phase 1 clinical trial testing a stem cell-based therapy for adult patients with severe sickle cell disease … Continue reading Stem Cell Agency invests in stem cell therapies targeting sickle cell disease and solid cancers
One man’s story points to hope against a deadly skin cancer
One of the great privileges and pleasures of working at the stem cell agency is the chance to meet and work with some remarkable people, such as my colleagues here at CIRM and the researchers we support. But for me the most humbling, and by far the most rewarding experience, is having a chance to … Continue reading One man’s story points to hope against a deadly skin cancer
Faster, better, more efficient. Challenging? That too. An update on CIRM 2.0.
Changing direction is never easy. The greater the change the greater the likelihood you’ll have to make adjustments and do some fine-tuning along the way to make sure you get it right. On January 1st of this year we made a big change, launching CIRM 2.0. Our President and CEO Dr. C. Randal Mills called … Continue reading Faster, better, more efficient. Challenging? That too. An update on CIRM 2.0.
How venture capital became a capital adventure for stem cell agency’s newest Board member
There’s something fascinating about looking at the arc of a person’s career. So often we start out thinking we are going to be one thing, and over the years we move in a different direction and end up doing something else entirely. That’s certainly the case with Kathy LaPorte, the newest addition to our governing … Continue reading How venture capital became a capital adventure for stem cell agency’s newest Board member