Education & Research Training (EDUC8) Awards
Preparing the Next Generation of Regenerative Medicine Professionals
- Applications for EDUC8 will open in March 2026
- All applications must be submitted by April 1, 2026 at 2pm (PST)
A second opportunity to apply for this award will be offered in early 2027
Photo Credit: Cal Poly Humboldt
Supporting Comprehensive Training for Undergraduate Through Master’s Level Students
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has developed the Education & Research Training (EDUC8) Awards funding opportunity to equip students across California with the education, skills, and hands-on experience required to thrive in regenerative medicine and related careers. EDUC8 enhances and updates the Bridges and COMPASS programs via a flexible umbrella grant mechanism, supporting diverse paths tailored to distinct trainees.
EDUC8 Awards: Key Information
A critical component of CIRM’s mission is to cultivate a skilled, adaptable workforce capable of meeting current and future scientific and technical challenges. See key program information below:
Program Scope
Funded programs are expected to achieve the following outcomes:- Support coursework and training that builds understanding of stem cell biology, gene therapy, and regenerative medicine into degree curricula.
- Provide paid, hands-on internship experiences with academic, industry, clinical, and research host sites.
- Foster mentorship, patient engagement, and community outreach to broaden perspectives and career readiness.
- Strengthen innovative recruitment and retention strategies to expand participation to a wide range of California communities and institutions.
- Contribute to the CIRM network by tracking alumni outcomes and disseminating knowledge and resources beyond the home institution.
Program Paths
Applicants may structure an EDUC8 Award as one of three paths, depending on their institution’s eligibility (see below):
COMPASS Path
Target Trainees: Early undergraduates, exploring career possibilities
Focus: Foundational coursework + short (e.g. summer) internships
Bridges Path
Target Trainees: Later stage undergraduates, certificate, and/or master’s students with specific interest in regenerative medicine
Focus: Specialized coursework + extended internships
Dual Path
Target Trainees: Institutions with eligibility and capacity to support both paths
Focus: Individual + shared programming and resources
Award Amounts
Maximum award amounts vary by path. Maximum award duration is up to five (5) years:
- COMPASS Path: Up to $3,237,000
- Bridges Path: Up to $4,588,500
- Dual Path: Up to $6,918,000
Institution Eligibility
To be eligible for an EDUC8 Award, applicant institutions must:
- Be California public or private non-profit colleges or universities with relevant STEM or regenerative medicine degree or certificate programs
- Meet specific criteria based on the training path (COMPASS, Bridges, or Dual Path) as described in the Program Announcement
- Submit no more than one EDUC8 application per funding cycle
- Must include internship host sites that are located in California and provide meaningful research and mentoring opportunities.
Download the EDUC8 Program Announcement (PA) for more details regarding award eligibility, review criteria, and application information.
How to Submit an Application:
Log in with your existing CIRM Username and Password. If you do not have a Username, click on the “New User” link and follow the instructions to Create a CIRM Username and password.
Select the tab labeled “Open Programs” under the section labeled “RFAs and Programs Open for Applications,” and click on the “Start a Grant Application” link for the selected program.
Click on the appropriate link and follow the instructions. Proposal templates can be located and submitted under the “Uploads” section.
Click on the “Done with Application” button. After completing all the mandatory sections, the “Done with Application” button will be enabled.
Note: Once submitted, you can no longer make changes to your application.
Select the tab labeled “Your Applications” and check the table under the section labeled “Your Submitted Applications.” Once the submission process has been completed, you will see your application number and project title listed.
Applications for EDUC8 will open in March 2026
All applications must be submitted by April 1, 2026 at 2pm (PST)
CIRM Grants Policies, FAQs, and Primers
EDUC8 Application Resources
CIRM will post an informational pre-recorded video guide here in February 2026. Visit this page to access additional materials before the application deadline.
EDUC8 Awards FAQs
An applicant must be a California public university or college, or a private, non-profit academic institution that offers regenerative medicine-relevant biology or STEM certificates and/or degrees. To apply to the COMPASS path, institutions must have an accredited Bachelor’s degree program in the above-mentioned disciplines. To apply to the Bridges or Dual Path, institutions must not have a CIRM funded Major Facility nor Shared Research Laboratory under Proposition 71.
The maximum duration of an EDUC8 Award is five years, and the total award amount (including indirect costs) will be capped at different amounts depending on the selected path:
- COMPASS Path: Up to $3,237,000
- Bridges Path: Up to $4,588,500
- Dual Path: Up to $6,918,000
Direct project costs include trainee stipends, program administration funds, and trainee administrative support funds (TASF). The TASF may include tuition and fees, research-related expenses, program-related trainee travel, advanced techniques course fees (Bridges only), and discretionary assistance funds. EDUC8 funds may also support indirect costs of up to 10% on eligible expenses. Please refer to the CIRM Grants Administration Policy for Discovery, Translation, and Education Projects for additional allowable and unallowable costs.
The EDUC programs are supported by grants that CIRM awards to eligible institutions, which are colleges, universities, or other organizations that provide appropriate courses and activities. Interested individuals would apply directly at an institution that has an EDUC award. Each EDUC8 program will have a different application process with its own set of requirements. For more information about our existing EDUC programs, you can find information on our Education and Training Page.
Laboratories that are interested in hosting trainees can potentially partner with an institution that is applying for (or already has) an EDUC8, EDUC2, EDUC3, or EDUC4 award. It is the responsibility of EDUC program directors to ensure that any lab that will host a trainee has appropriate resources, environment, subject matter, and mentors to supervise students at the targeted EDUC program level.
To be eligible for EDUC8, both the applicant organization and all proposed internship hosts sites must be located in California.
EDUC8 was developed as an umbrella mechanism to update and improve CIRM’s Bridges and COMPASS programs, thereby sustaining their value while extending their capacity to meet the evolving needs and technical demands of the regenerative medicine field. EDUC8 can support a Bridges path, a COMPASS path, or both paths- depending on your institutions’ educational infrastructure and resources.
Internships may focus on regenerative medicine-related research or research and development (R&D)-adjacent skill sets such as project management, clinical trial coordination, process development, etc. Internships that provide multidisciplinary exposure and/or foster the development of hybrid skillsets are encouraged, for example combining molecular biology research with project management opportunities. Additional disciplines of interest include but are not limited to imaging, data science, statistics, regulatory affairs, science communication, policy, or science consulting-related experiences. Internship research is expected to be a full-time activity for which the trainee is compensated with a stipend and appropriate academic credit (determined by the applicant institution).
Email education@cirm.ca.gov for questions or to request a consultation.
