December 2015 Newsletter
CIRM 2.0 Funding Opportunities
Translational Programs:
- TRAN 1-4: Partnering Opportunity for Translational Research Projects [pdf]
- Visit our Translational Programs Page for more information
Clinical Programs:
- CLIN 1: Partnering opportunity for late stage preclinical projects (formerly PA 15-01) [pdf]
- CLIN 2: Partnering opportunity for clinical trial stage projects (formerly PA 15-02) [pdf]
- CLIN 3: Partnering opportunity for supplemental accelerating activities (formerly PA 15-03) [pdf]
- Visit our Clinical Trial Stage Programs Page for more information
Our Discovery Programs will be announced soon.
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Send Us Your Final Thoughts on CIRM's 5 Year Plan!
The CIRM team is currently putting the final touches on its new Strategic Plan, a bold vision for what the agency hopes to achieve in the next five years, a vision significantly shaped by the input from stakeholders of all types. As Jonathan Thomas, PhD, JD, Chair of the Board stated in our November 23rd press release, we now invite the public to review the plan once more and to send any final comments: “This Strategic Plan is the product of months of work. It began with us throwing out all our preconceived notions of what we do, and instead focused on what was possible with the time and money we have left. I think the result is something dramatically different than any Strategic Plan I have ever seen. Since you (the public) helped shape it we’d like to know what you think of it too.” Send any comments by 5pm, Thursday, December 3rd to Kevin McCormack, Senior Director for Public Communications and Patient Advocate Outreach: kmccormack@cirm.ca.gov
- Read the Strategic Plan
- Read our press release and blog about the strategic plan
New Video and Blog: CIRM's Clinical Trials Tackle Blindness
More than seven million people in the US struggle to see. While most are not completely blind, they have difficulty with, or simply can’t do, daily tasks most of us take for granted. California's Stem Cell Agency (CIRM) has committed more than $100 million to 17 projects trying to solve this unmet medical need. Two of these projects have begun clinical trials testing cell therapies in patients with severe visual impairment due to retinitis pigmentosa (RP) or age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In late November, the CIRM communications team posted a new video and blog feature that highlight these two trials.
- Watch "Eyeing Stem Cell Therapies for Vision Loss"
- Read "CIRM’s Clinical Trial Portfolio: Two Teams Tackle Blindness"
The Latest Publications by CIRM-Funded Researchers
CIRM grantees are making steady progress on understanding the fundamentals of stem cell biology and moving stem cell-based therapies toward clinical trials. Here are examples of CIRM-funded research that was published in November along with press releases from the grantees' home institution and essays from The Stem Cellar, CIRM's official blog:
November 9th - Nature Biotechnology
- USC Release: USC and Sangamo researchers advance genome editing of blood stem cells
- CIRM Blog: Gene editing in blood stem cells just got easier
November 12th - eLife
- UCSD Release: Novel stem cell line avoids risk of introducing transplanted tumors
- CIRM Blog: Have your cake and eat it too: Stem cells without the risk of tumors
November 18th - Nature
- Salk Institute Release: Blocking immune cell treats new type of age-related diabetes
- CIRM Blog: New type of diabetes caused by old age may be treatable
Upcoming CIRM Events
December 10th-12th: World Stem Cell Summit
The World Stem Cell Summit holds its annual conference this year in Atlanta, GA. CIRM team members and grantees will be among the list of scheduled speakers. Each year, more than 1,200 attendees are expected from 45+ countries. Prominent industry leaders, scientists, clinicians, students, regulators, policymakers, patient advocates, venture capitalists, angel investors, economic development officers and experts in law and ethics join together to advance our field. Visit the World Stem Cell Summit webpage for more information.
December 17th: CIRM Board Meeting
The CIRM governing Board will hold its last in-person meeting of 2015 on Thursday December 17th in Los Angeles, CA. Agendas and details will be posted to the meetings page 10 days before each event.
CIRM Job Openings
The following positions are now open. Follow the links below to apply or go to our jobs page:
