Participating in a Clinical Trial

At CIRM we are committed to funding and supporting only the best research and the most rigorous science to advance the field of stem cell research. That’s why we only fund clinical trials that have met the highest standards, that have spent years of research and testing to show they may be both safe and, hopefully, effective.

We also only fund clinical trials given the go-ahead by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to test their therapies in people. Not everyone is so diligent. There are many predatory clinics offering bogus therapies that have not undergone this rigorous kind of testing. These therapies have not proven they are safe and certainly haven’t shown they are effective. What they are is expensive, costing thousands, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars none of which is covered by insurance.

Some of these clinics also create slick, glossy websites that have lots of information about the work they do. They also often add in, without approval, quotes from CIRM or other organizations with a good reputation, hoping our credibility will rub off on their claims. It doesn’t.

That’s what this page sets out to do. We want to give you the information you need to ask the right kinds of questions to identify the right kind of clinical trial, and to help you avoid being offered a therapy that might not only take your money, but that might also endanger your health.

Find Out More:
CIRM-Funded Clinical Trials
Where CIRM Funding Goes
Stem Cell FAQs

If you or a family member is interested in participating in a clinical trial, please visit clinicaltrials.gov to find a trial near you. CIRM Alpha Clinics conduct CIRM-funded and non-CIRM-funded clinical trials that meet our high standard for being regulated, reliable and reputable. Find out more.