Arjun Deb, MD, a UCLA professor of medicine and biology, received a $6 million award from CIRM to advance his research on heart attack and heart failure treatments. Cardiovascular disease is the leading global cause of death, responsible for about one-third of all deaths. A heart attack causes permanent heart muscle damage and often leads … Continue reading CIRM awards $6 million to advance research for heart attack and heart failure treatments
UCLA
Empowering the future of bioscience in the LA region
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) proudly participated in and sponsored the recent 2024 Los Angeles Bioscience Ecosystem Summit Twenty (LABEST) Conference, the premier showcase for bioscience innovation in Los Angeles. With around 1,000 participants, LABEST is one of the largest gatherings of visionary scientists, enthusiastic entrepreneurs, and pioneering institutions in the region. Top … Continue reading Empowering the future of bioscience in the LA region
CIRM invests $1.5 million for UCLA research identifying risk factors for viral infections
Image of Michael Wells, PhD from UCLA CIRM recently awarded $1.5 million to a UCLA project led by Michael Wells, PhD. The team aims to identify genetic and molecular risk factors for viral infections across diverse populations. They will use a stem cell–based “cell village” platform to study viral susceptibility in 150 donors. These cell … Continue reading CIRM invests $1.5 million for UCLA research identifying risk factors for viral infections
CIRM invests more than $42 million in translational research
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine awarded $42.1 million for translational research projects. These projects target brain cancers, salivary gland conditions, and a rare metabolic disease. CIRM’s Translational program supports promising stem cell and gene projects. It helps teams complete key activities needed for clinical studies or broad use. These activities can involve therapeutic candidates, … Continue reading CIRM invests more than $42 million in translational research
CIRM Board Approves Funding for New Clinical Trial Targeting Brain Tumors
The governing Board of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has awarded almost $12 million to carry out a clinical trial targeting brain tumors. This brings the total number of CIRM funded clinical trials to 83. $11,999,984 was awarded to Dr. Jana Portnow at the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope. They are using Neural stem … Continue reading CIRM Board Approves Funding for New Clinical Trial Targeting Brain Tumors
California researchers developing vaccine to curb the spread of Zika virus
Zika is caused by a virus that is mainly transmitted by infected female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes but also through sexual intercourse. People infected by Zika virus usually have mild symptoms that normally last for two to seven days and can include fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, or headaches. Zika also causes devastating … Continue reading California researchers developing vaccine to curb the spread of Zika virus
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
UCLA-led team creates first comprehensive map of human blood stem cell development
THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST Human blood stem cells emerging from specialized endothelial cells in the wall of an embryonic aorta. UCLA scientists’ confirmation of this process clarifies a longstanding controversy about the stem cells’ cellular origin. Image Credit: Hanna Mikkola Lab/UCLA, Katja Schenke-Layland Lab/University of Tübingen, Nature California researchers from … Continue reading UCLA-led team creates first comprehensive map of human blood stem cell development
Chance discovery could lead to a treatment for skin ulcers
Dr. Antoni Ribas in his research lab on the UCLA Campus: Photo courtesy Ann Johansson When UCLA's Dr. Antoni Ribas was researching a potential therapy for melanoma, a form of skin cancer, he stumbled upon something unexpected. That unexpected discovery has now resulted in him getting a $5 million award from the governing Board of … Continue reading Chance discovery could lead to a treatment for skin ulcers
CIRM Board gives thumbs up to training and treatment programs
THIS BLOG IS ALSO AVAILABLE AS AN AUDIO CAST CIRM Bridges student discusses her poster presentation At CIRM, the bread and butter of what we do is funding research and hopefully advancing therapies to patients. But the jam, that's our education programs. Helping train the next generation of stem cell and gene therapy scientists is … Continue reading CIRM Board gives thumbs up to training and treatment programs