It was a $137 million day for the Golden States stem cell agency no small event even for an enterprise that is backed by billions.
The scientific scope covered by the $137 million was impressive. It ranged from bolstering the vauntedAlpha Clinic Networkinitiated around the state by theCalifornia Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), as the agency is legally known, to raising the number ofCIRMs clinical trials to 83. Plus, CIRM directors gave the go-ahead to a $50 million program to finance shared labs around the state.
CIRMs cash comes from $5.5 billion that voters approved in 2020. The money is borrowed by the state via state bonds. The agency, however, does not have all its boodle lying around in a vault in its South San Francisco headquarters. CIRM can only receive $540 million in bond funding annually. But the cash carries over from year to year.
CIRMs $137-million-day came on Oct. 27, a few days before CIRM officially turned 18.
Nonetheless, awarding the money sooner rather than later is in CIRMs best interest. No research is done without cash. CIRM needs to generate results that will convince voters to approve more billions in about 10 years when its funding runs out. Given the slow pace of therapy development, a decade may span only the initial steps in the process.
CIRMs $137-million-day came on Oct. 27, a few days before CIRM officially turned 18. The ballot measure that gave birth to the agency, the largest such state enterprise in the country, was approved on Nov. 2, 2004. Voters awarded CIRM an initial $3 billion, hoping for quick development of miraculous stem cell therapies available to the general public. CIRM is still working on that promise.
The biggest chunk of last months $137 million went for the Alpha Clinics $72 million on top of the $40 million already invested in the network. Continued CIRM funding of the existing Alpha Clinic sites does raise questions about the initial rationale behind network
The first request for applicationsfor Alpha clinic was posted in 2013. It said the applications would be judged on whether they present a feasible and compelling business/fundraising proposal, and the likelihood that implementation of the plan would support the Alpha Stem Cell Clinics beyond the 5-year funding provided by this RFA. Last months awards are also for five years.
One criterion considered by reviewers was whether the (UCSD) application met the needs of underserved and disproportionately affected communities.
The clinics are aimed at expanding existing capacities for delivering stem cell, gene therapies and other advanced treatment to patients, according to CIRM. They also serve as a competency hub for regenerative medicine training, clinical research, and the delivery of approved treatments.
At last months meeting, CIRM directors expanded the program to includeStanford UniversityplusCedars-Sinaiand theUniversity of Southern California, both in Los Angeles. The network already includedUCLA, UC Davis, UC San Francisco, UC Irvine, UC San Diegoand theCity of Hope.
UC San Diegos bid for $8 million more hit a roadblock, however, when it was rejected prior to the Oct. 27 board by CIRMs application reviewers, who make the de facto decisions on grants while meeting behind closed doors. The board almost never overturns a positive decision by the reviewer on applications.
The reviewers found significant flaws in the UC San Diego application (number INFR4-13597). They included criticism of the diversity plan and problems with training. One criterion considered by reviewers was whether the application met the needs of underserved and disproportionately affected communities.
In other awards, the sole clinical trial application for $12 million went toJana Portnowat theBeckman Research InstituteofCity of Hope
The review summary said that was an underdeveloped portion of the proposal. Ability to effectively increase DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) in enrollment seems to be there but so many aspects of recruitment, retention, etc were missing.
The review summary also cited the limited number of patients enrolled clinically in stem cell and gene therapy trials.
Catriona Jamieson, director of the current Alpha program at UC San Diego, successfully appealed the rejection of the application by reviewers ina five-page, single-spaced letterto CIRM directors.
CIRM ChairmanJonathan Thomastold the board that the San Diego program, which will extend into rural Imperial County, is absolutely first rate and has produced many excellent projects.
In other awards, the sole clinical trial application for $12 million went toJana Portnowat theBeckman Research InstituteofCity of Hopefor a phase one trial involving the development of a delivery vehicle for a cancer-killing virus that targets brain tumor cells (application number CLIN2-13162 #2). It was the second try by Portnow for CIRM funding.
Another $3 million was awarded toBoris MinevofCalidi Biotherapeuticsof La Jolla, Ca., for work to initiate a clinical trial involving skin cancer (application number CLIN1-14080).
The $50 million shared labs planwas approved by directors but does not immediately involve individual awards. CIRM plans a deadline of next spring for applications. They are scheduled to be approved in late 2023.
The aim of the labs effort is to overcome hurdles in stem cell research. Not all research laboratorieshave local access to relevant infrastructure and training, nor do all have the opportunity to collaborate with a stem cell-based modeling laboratory, CIRM said in the plan proposal.
Laboratories well-versed in stem cell-based modeling that share their expertise and/or provide models collaboratively cant meet demand, as it is time-consuming and costly to divert resources to educating and supporting other researchers.
Regarding the Alpha awards, below are the names of the recipient institutions and principal scientists, along with their application numbers. The numbers are needed to locate the specific application review summaries, which do not identify the applicants. The review summaries include both positive and negative comments about the applications. All of the awards are for $8 million.All of the review summaries can be found at this link.
Cedars Sinai Michael Lewis, INFR-13586
City of Hope Leo Wang, INFR4-13587
Stanford University Matthew Porteus,INFR4-13579
UC Davis Mehrdad Abedi, INFR4-13596
UC Irvine Daniela Bota,INFR4-13952
UC Los Angeles Noah Federman, INFR4-13685
UC San Diego Catriona Jamieson,INFR4-13597
UC San Francisco Mark Walters, INFR4-13581Editors Note: David Jensenis a retired newsman who has followed the affairs of the $3 billion California stem cell agency since 2005 via his blog, the California Stem Cell Report,where this story first appeared.He has published thousands of items on California stem cell matters.
Want to see more stories like this? Sign up for The Roundup, the free daily newsletter about California politics from the editors of Capitol Weekly. Stay up to date on the news you need to know.
Sign up below, then look for a confirmation email in your inbox.
See the original post here:
Stem cell: $137 million buys more clinical trials, shared labs ...
- Overcoming Tendonitis: How Stem Cell Treatments Are Revolutionizing Athlete Rehabilitation - Medical Tourism Magazine - February 21st, 2024
- Unproven Stem Cell Treatments Offer Hope & Risks - Healthline - January 4th, 2023
- Stem Cell or Bone Marrow Transplant Side Effects - American Cancer Society - November 24th, 2022
- Stem Cells Australia | Australian research, stem cell treatments and ... - October 29th, 2022
- What is a Bone Marrow Transplant (Stem Cell Transplant)? - Cancer.Net - October 29th, 2022
- Cameron Mathison Is Undergoing Stem Cell Treatments - October 4th, 2022
- Hiltzik: A judge undermines the FDA on stem cells - Los Angeles Times - October 4th, 2022
- Mesoblast Submits New Information to FDA IND File in Response to Items in the CRL to the Remestemcel-L BLA for SR-aGVHD - GlobeNewswire - October 4th, 2022
- 15 Years of Heart - Newswise - October 4th, 2022
- QC Kinetix (The Heights) Helping Patients Heal Better from Joint Pain Through Houston Heights Sports Medicine - Yahoo Finance - October 4th, 2022
- Sources - Minnesota Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns was on bed rest for days due to throat infection - ESPN - October 4th, 2022
- Innovative spaces and an expert team help Childrens Hospital New Orleans set the standard in cancer care - NOLA.com - September 25th, 2022
- Stem Cell Transplantation: What it Is, Process & Procedure - September 16th, 2022
- New stem cell therapy provides long-term brain protection against ALS - Study Finds - September 8th, 2022
- $150 Million Gift Takes Stem Cell Research to New Heights - University of California San Diego - September 8th, 2022
- Seattle biotech company is the first to receive approval to test B cell gene therapy in humans - GeekWire - September 8th, 2022
- Kite's CAR T-cell Therapy Tecartus Granted European Marketing Authorization for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia... - September 8th, 2022
- Could Stem-Cell Based Therapy Treat Type-1 Diabetes? A New Study Demonstrates the Treatments Potential - SciTechDaily - August 30th, 2022
- Orchard Therapeutics Announces Multiple Presentations at 2022 SSIEM Annual Symposium Highlighting Neurometabolic Disease Portfolio - GlobeNewswire - August 30th, 2022
- Global Cancer Stem Cells Market Estimated to Reach $1,722.7 Million by 2026 and Grow at 10.3% CAGR in the 2019 to 2026 Timeframe | [180-Pages] Report... - August 22nd, 2022
- Getting a Stem Cell or Bone Marrow Transplant - American Cancer Society - August 14th, 2022
- Stem cell therapy to be used in treatment of long COVID by Panacell Biotech - Labiotech.eu - August 14th, 2022
- Selma Blair 'Stopped Looking in the Mirror' After MS Treatments - TooFab - August 14th, 2022
- ElevateBio Announces the Formation of a New Company With George Daley, M.D., Ph.D., and Boston Childrens Hospital to Develop iPSC-Derived Allogeneic... - August 5th, 2022
- Stem Cells Are Needed To Treat Life-Threatening Diseases - Longevity LIVE - Longevity LIVE - July 19th, 2022
- Stem Cell Hair Transplant: What Is It and When Will It Be Available? - July 11th, 2022
- Stem cell treatments and regulation - a quick guide for consumers - July 11th, 2022
- Tisch Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York Study Featured in BioSpace - Business Wire - July 3rd, 2022
- NorthX Biologics expands to Cell Therapy: Partnership with Alder Therapeutics and new manufacturing site on Karolinska campus - GlobeNewswire - June 22nd, 2022
- Japan's five hottest biotech companies in healthcare - Labiotech.eu - June 22nd, 2022
- Sickle cell beta thalassemia: Causes, symptoms, and treatments - Medical News Today - June 22nd, 2022
- Umoja Biopharma Presents Data on its Engineered Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Platform at the 2022 International Society for Stem Cell Research Annual... - June 22nd, 2022
- Six Things to Know About Stem Cell Treatment - HealthTechZone - May 15th, 2022
- CU Anschutz center for cell-based therapy gets $200 million expansion - The Denver Post - May 15th, 2022
- Differentiation therapy, Hox genes and Abemaciclib Research update 13th May - Brain Tumour Research - May 15th, 2022
- Here's the No. 1 Reason to Buy Vertex Pharmaceuticals Now - The Motley Fool - May 15th, 2022
- To help cope with the world's oldest population, Japan is investing in transplanted iPS stem cells - CBS News - April 19th, 2022
- Stem cell cure for lower back pain is all in the 'hiPS' - Study Finds - April 19th, 2022
- Versant-backed startup launches with plans to broaden cell therapy's reach - BioPharma Dive - April 19th, 2022
- CAR NK-Cell Therapy Is Quickly Growing in Immunotherapy - Targeted Oncology - April 19th, 2022
- Robert Vonderheide Appointed to Second Five-Year Term as Director of the Abramson Cancer Center - U Penn - April 19th, 2022
- Signaling Pathways and Targeted Therapies for Stem Cells in Prostate Cancer - DocWire News - April 19th, 2022
- Is Stem Cell Therapy Right for You? - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic - April 6th, 2022
- Cleveland Cord Blood Center and Deverra Therapeutics Announce Agreement - PR Newswire - April 6th, 2022
- Early Treatment Matters More Than Ever in Multiple Myeloma, Kumar Says - AJMC.com Managed Markets Network - April 6th, 2022
- Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell therapy for COVID-19 pneumonia: potential mechanisms, current clinical evidence, and future perspectives - DocWire News - March 25th, 2022
- A Holistic Review on the Current and Future Status of Biology-Driven and Broad-Spectrum Therapeutic Options for Medulloblastoma - Cureus - March 25th, 2022
- Current Strategies and the Potential of CAR T-Cell Therapy in Relapsed and Refractory MCL - AJMC.com Managed Markets Network - March 25th, 2022
- 'I wouldn't be here': Virginia girl, celebrating 11 years in remission, credits St. Jude with saving her life - News 3 WTKR Norfolk - March 25th, 2022
- This weird mouse with a tuft of human hair could be the future of a stem cell treatment for baldness - Boing Boing - January 20th, 2022
- 5 questions facing gene therapy in 2022 - BioPharma Dive - January 20th, 2022
- How Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Transplants Are Used to ... - January 5th, 2022
- The Stem Cell Transplant Process - UChicago Medicine - January 5th, 2022
- Next Chapters: How Northern California blood recipients are doing years after donors helped save their lives - KCRA Sacramento - January 5th, 2022
- Exclusive: Ronnie Coleman on Recent Weight Gain, Current Strength, and Health Progress - BarBend - January 5th, 2022
- Orchard Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Highlights Recent ... - KULR-TV - November 8th, 2021
- Managing superficial pyoderma with light therapy - DVM 360 - October 28th, 2021
- New Treatments and Tips for Dealing With Blood Cancer - Curetoday.com - October 28th, 2021
- Orchard Therapeutics Outlines Comprehensive Presence at the - GlobeNewswire - October 16th, 2021
- Taking aim at the brain, Takeda strikes up cell therapy R&D alliance with Immusoft - MedCity News - October 16th, 2021
- The Impact Of Market Restrictions On The US Stem Cell Biomaterials Market - Med Device Online - October 16th, 2021
- FTC Follows Through On Prioritizing Investigations Into False Advertising In Healthcare Markets - Media, Telecoms, IT, Entertainment - United States -... - October 16th, 2021
- FDA Warns About Stem Cell Therapies | FDA - October 5th, 2021
- Anja Health Disrupts Cord Blood Banking with Heartfelt Founding Story and Ground-Breaking Mission - Digital Journal - October 5th, 2021
- Kite's Tecartus is First CAR T Therapy Approved for Adults with B-Cell ALL - Clinical OMICs News - October 5th, 2021
- Prolymphocytic Leukemia: What Is It and How Is It Treated? - Healthline - August 31st, 2021
- Researchers Gaze into Space to Envision Future of Regenerative Medicine - UPMC & Pitt Health Sciences News Blog - UPMC - August 18th, 2021
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment: What You Need to Know - Healthline - August 18th, 2021
- Study Calls for COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients With Cancer to Enable Optimal Treatment Delivery During Pandemic - OncLive - August 18th, 2021
- A Third Dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine Recommended for Some Cancer Patients With Weakened Immune Systems - On Cancer - Memorial Sloan Kettering - August 18th, 2021
- Stem cells: What they are and what they do - Mayo Clinic - June 6th, 2021
- Stem Cell Therapy for Knee Pain: What Patients Should Know - June 6th, 2021
- Study clarifies the impact of getting old on hematopoietic stem cells - Microbioz India - December 26th, 2020
- Stem Cell Therapy Shows 2-year Benefit for Progressive MS Patients in Phase 1 Trial - Multiple Sclerosis News Today - December 22nd, 2020
- New Combination Therapy Tested By Children's May Offer Hope For Leukemia Patients - WVXU - December 22nd, 2020
- Physio Logic Brings Cutting-edge Regenerative Treatments for Sport Injuries and Arthritis to New York City - PRNewswire - December 22nd, 2020
- For Patients With HMA-Resistant MDS, What Are Their Options? - AJMC.com Managed Markets Network - December 22nd, 2020
- In COVID-19 Clinical Trials, Experts from Baptist Health's Cancer Institutes Treat Patients With Mild or Severe Symptoms - Baptist Health South... - December 22nd, 2020
- SPONSORED: 12 Charities of Christmas - Anthony Nolan - The Courier - December 22nd, 2020
- California's Proposition 14: short in the arm for stem cell research - BioNews - December 14th, 2020