Jeff Sheehy sworn in for new term on stem cell agency’s governing board

San Francisco, CA – Jeff Sheehy has been sworn in to a second term as a patient advocate for HIV/AIDS on the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee, the governing body of the state’s stem cell agency, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).

In his day job Jeff is the Director for Communications at the AIDS Research Institute at UCSF. He is also a longtime HIV/AIDS and gay civil rights activist and a person living with HIV.

Jeff says he is honored to be reappointed to the ICOC, adding: “I believe that CIRM funded researchers are on the threshold of significant advances that will benefit patients suffering life threatening diseases and conditions, as well as the California taxpayers who have supported our work. I look forward to striving to ensure that CIRM continues to make progress and that the benefits of CIRM’s work reach all Californians.” His bio, along with those of all board members, is available on the CIRM website.

Jonathan Thomas, PhD, JD, Chair of the ICOC, welcomed Jeff’s reappointment saying, “Jeff has been a real champion for the agency over the past few years and we are delighted he is staying with us. His knowledge, expertise and passion are essential elements in helping ensure we keep our focus where it belongs, on the people who need treatments for chronic diseases and injuries.”

Jeff’s commitment to the stem cell agency is reflected in the fact that of seven ICOC subcommittees he is a member and active participant on six of them, including being Co-Chair of the Science Subcommittee.

Jeff was reappointed by State Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg and was sworn in by Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom appointed Jeff as his HIV/AIDS advisor when he was Mayor of San Francisco. Jeff’s term on the committee is effective November 20, 2012 and ends November 30, 2020.

Jeff has been the recipient of the Cape Crusader Award from Equality California, the HRC Leadership Award from The Human Rights Campaign, the Tomas Fabregas AIDS Hero Award presented at San Francisco’s AIDS Candlelight March in 2001 and was featured in OUT Magazine’s OUT 100 list of the most influential members of the LGBT community in 1999. He received a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Texas in Austin.

About CIRM: CIRM was established in November 2004 with the passage of Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act. The statewide ballot measure, which provided $3 billion in funding for stem cell research at California universities and research institutions, was overwhelmingly approved by voters, and called for the establishment of an entity to make grants and provide loans for stem cell research, research facilities, and other vital research opportunities. A list of grants and loans awarded to date may be seen here: https://www.cirm.ca.gov/grants.

Contact:
Kevin McCormack
415-396-9813
kmccormack@cirm.ca.gov