February 2015 Newsletter
CIRM February Newsletter
- CIRM Board Approves Almost $30M to Help Overcome Research Barriers
- CIRM 2.0 Webinar Now Available Online
- Kathy LaPorte Sworn In as CIRM Board Member
- The Latest Publications by CIRM-funded Researchers
- Upcoming CIRM Events
- CIRM Funding Opportunities
- CIRM Job Openings
CIRM Board Approves Almost $30M to Help Overcome Research Barriers
On January 29th, the CIRM governing Board awarded $29.75 million to 20 projects which aim to create and test novel tools and technologies, to improve existing ones, and to help resolve problems that are holding back the field. These Tools and Technologies Awards include an effort to increase the ability of stem cell-based transplants to survive, grow and create new tissue. The goal of another project is to develop new detection methods to ensure that only the highest quality cells are used in transplantation or therapy. Two awards involve co-funding partnerships between CIRM and Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
- Read the Tools and Technologies Awards press release
- Read our blog, "Getting the Right Tools for the Right Job"
CIRM 2.0 Webinar Now Available Online
On January 21st, CIRM President and CEO Dr. C. Randal Mills held a free webinar to let people know about the big changes being introduced under CIRM 2.0, a radical overhaul of the way the Agency operates. Mills described how the first set of CIRM 2.0 programs will make it easier for both companies and academic researchers with promising projects to partner with CIRM to get the support they need when they need it, reducing the time from application to funding from around two years to just 120 days. Over the coming months, Mills plans to do a series of webinars to bring the stem cell research community up to date on CIRM 2.0 progress.
- Watch the CIRM 2.0 webinar and download the presentation slides
- Learn how to apply for CIRM 2.0 programs
- Watch a partnering360® interview with President Mills about CIRM 2.0
Kathy LaPorte Sworn In as CIRM Board Member
At the January governing Board meeting, Chair Jonathan Thomas swore in Kathy LaPorte who was appointed in November to the CIRM governing Board by State Treasurer Bill Lockyer. She is assuming the vacant Industry seat previously held by Michael Goldberg. Ms. LaPorte is currently the Chief Business Officer for Nodality, Inc., a biotech company focused on improving therapeutic drug development. Her areas of expertise are in evaluating and mentoring start-ups developing digital and biopharmaceutical technology solutions for healthcare consumers, providers, payers and the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. She has a B.S. degree in biology from Yale University and a MBA degree from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
The Latest Publications on CIRM-funded Research
CIRM grantees are making steady progress on understanding the fundamentals of stem cell biology and moving stem cell-based therapies toward clinical trials. Here's an example of CIRM-funded research that was published in January along with press releases from the grantees' home institutions and entries from The Stem Cellar, CIRM's official blog:
January 6th - Cell
- UCLA Release: Scientists Develop Pioneering Method to Define Stages of Stem Cell Reprogramming
- CIRM Blog: CIRM-funded scientists track the steps that take an adult cell back in time
January 8th - American Journal of Physiology: GI & Liver
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles Release: Researchers Grow Functional Tissue-Engineered Intestine from Human Cells
- CIRM Blog: Stem cell stories that caught our eye: new gut cells work
January 23nd - Developmental Biology
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles Release: Mammalian Heart Regenerative Capacity Depends on Severity of Injury
- CIRM Blog: Stem cell stories that caught our eye: Heart self-repair
Upcoming CIRM Events
March 19th, 10:30am-12:30pm (12:30-5pm for one-on-one meetings): JLabs presents "Meet with the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)." Neil Littman, CIRM's Business Development Officer, will be presenting an overview of 'CIRM 2.0', a new open, rolling funding application process. CIRM 2.0 is geared to meet the timelines of industry while providing non-dilutive grant funding and forgivable loans to help de-risk clinical development. Don't miss this opportunity, apply today to be considered for a one-on-one meeting with a representative from CIRM! Visit the Eventbright site to attend.
March 26th: The CIRM governing Board will hold its second meeting of 2015 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The agenda and details will be posted to the meetings page 10 days before the event.
CIRM 2.0 Funding Opportunities
CIRM is establishing an open call for proposals and will accept applications on a monthly basis for three complementary award types described in the Program Announcements listed below:
- PA 15-01: Partnering opportunity for late stage preclinical projects
- PA 15-02: Partnering opportunity for clinical trial stage projects
- PA 15-03: Partnering opportunity for supplemental accelerating activities
To submit an application, visit our CIRM 2.0 awards page for more information.
Sign up to receive CIRM funding announcements
CIRM Job Openings
The following positions are now open. Follow the links below to apply or go to our jobs page:
