Monday, January 28, 2019

California Stem Cell Agency to Award $24 Million for Three Clinical Trials

If all goes according to plan, in just three days the California stem cell agency will be down to its last $69 million for clinical trials.

Directors are set to give away $24 million on Wednesday for three clinical trial programs as the agency runs out of cash this year for new awards. The agency started with $3 billion 14 years ago. It has allotted $144 million for research awards this year.

The agency, known formally as the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), is attempting to raise privately more than $200 million this year. It is also hoping that voters will approve $5 billion more in funding in the November 2020 election. 

Applications coming before directors this week involve $6 million for Huntington's disease, $6 million for immunodeficiency studies and $12 million for renal failure research. 

The agency withholds the names of researchers and institutions involved until directors act publicly.  The agency's reviewers earlier approved the applications during a closed door session. The agency board almost never overturns the decision of its reviewers. 

The public can participate in the teleconference meeting via the Internet. Instructions can be found on the meeting agenda along with summaries of the reviewers comments on the applications.

CIRM was created by California voters in 2004 and provided with $3 billion in bond funding. No other significant source of income was provided under the ballot initiative.

Correction: An earlier version of this item that was up briefly incorrectly described the $69 million as all that remained for all awards this year.    

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