This March 3, 2010 Webinar hosted by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) provides guidelines on writing a competitive application for stem cell research funding from CIRM. Speakers include CIRM staff, CIRM grant reviewers, and for-profit companies that have applied for and been awarded CIRM grants.
CIRM has funded a $5.5 million Disease Team to develop a follow-on cardiac stem cell clinical trial that uses a patient's own heart stem cells to regenerate scarred tissue damaged by a heart attack. The team is led by Eduardo Marbán, MD, PhD, Director of the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute. Marbán presented the team's latest progress at the December 8th, 2011 CIRM Governing Board meeting. Fred Lesikar, a participant in a current trial, also spoke to Board and described the dramatic improvement he's experienced since receiving his heart stem cells two years ago.
CIRM has funded a $9 million disease team to develop a more effective and safer bone marrow transplant to treat sickle cell disease (here is a summary of that work). The team is led by Dr. Donald Kohn, director of the Human Gene Medicine Program at UCLA, a scientist with the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA and a professor of microbiology and pediatrics. Kohn spoke to the CIRM Governing Board about his team's progress. Nancy Rene, a patient advocate for the Sickle Cell Foundation of California, spoke about the impact of sickle cell anemia on her grandson's life.
CIRM hosted its 2011 Grantee Meeting in San Francisco, bringing together the stem cell scientists and trainees that the institute is funding. This leading edge event helps these researchers exchange ideas and increase their knowledge about stem cells biology and supports CIRM's goal of translating stem cell discoveries into therapies to relieve human suffering from chronic disease and injury.
On May 7, 2011, the California Stem Cell Funding Agency hosted, "Synapses Firing: Connections Made", a patient advocacy event at UC-Irvine's Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center. The 100+ people in attendance heard from patient advocates about living with neurodegenerative disease and from scientists about recent progress in stem cell research that may lead to new treatments.
On December 15, 2010, Renee Reijo Pera, PhD spoke to the CIRM Governing Board about her research studies of the human embryo and embryonic stem cells.
Using time lapse video of the embryo's initial cell divisions, Pera's lab identified parameters that can accurately predict human embryo viability. These findings could improve the success rate for couples trying to have children through in vitro fertilization as well as reduce the number of embryos used in the procedure.
Pera is director of Stanford's Center for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Education. She was introduced by Robert Klein, chair of the CIRM Governing Board. She has a Comprehensive grant ( http://1.usa.gov/f7jloL ) and a New Cells Lines grant ( http://1.usa.gov/hkwaPl ) from CIRM.
On June 18, 2009, the CIRM Governing Board heard from Catriona Jamieson about the promise of stem cell research in treating leukemia. Dr. Jamieson described how her laboratory used stem cells to show that a specific small molecule could halt life threatening blood disorders that can lead to acute leukemia. After her presentation, Dr. Jamieson introduced three of her patients who are participating in a clinical trial of this small molecule drug.
On April 29, 2009, the CIRM Governing Board heard from four speakers about the promise of stem cell research in treating macular degeneration. Carmen Puliafito presented a brief overview of macular degeneration, Sharon Hayes provided a patient's perspective of macular degeneration, David Hinton described the generation of retinal epithelium cells from human embryonic stem cells for use in cell replacement therapy, and Mark Humayun outlined clinical treatment strategies for age-related macular degeneration.
On December 10, 2008, the CIRM Governing Board heard from three speakers about the promise of stem cell research in treating Alzheimer's disease. They learned about living with Alzheimer's disease, current treatments for Alzheimer's, and prospects for bringing stem cell-based Alzheimer's therapies to clinical trial.
On May 7, 2008, the CIRM Governing Board heard from three speakers about the promise of stem cell research in treating Parkinson's disease. They learned about current Parkinson's treatments from Jeff Bronstein, prospects for stem cell-based therapies from Arnold Kriegstein, and life with Parkinson's disease from Bruce Wisnicki.
About California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the state stem cell agency, funds adult and embryonic stem cell research at institutions and for-profit organizations in California. These funds are accelerating a field of research that holds the possibility of bringing new therapies for debilitating diseases.
CIRM was established in 2004 following the passage of Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative. The statewide ballot measure provided $3 billion in funding for stem cell research at California universities and research institutions over 10 years.
Visit our Web site for information about the science we've funded, background material on stem cell research and summaries of research results.
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the state stem cell agency, funds adult and embryonic stem cell research at institutions and for-profit organizations in California. These funds are accelerating a field of research that holds th...
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