Stem cells hold particular promise for treating diseases for which few other effective therapies exist. In these treatments, stem cells are introduced into the body and develop into specialized cells that repair, restore, replace, or regenerate cells damaged by disease.
The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) awarded the UC San Diego Alpha Stem Cell Clinic $8 million as part of a statewide effort to advance stem cell therapies. The funding will support the clinic’s mission to bring novel stem cell-based therapies to patients with difficult-to-treat diseases.
Alpha Clinics – named for being the first of its kind – are a network of clinics across California designed to bridge the gap between stem cell research and clinical applications. The system connects clinical, research, regulatory and administrative teams to accelerate clinical trials and streamline the patient experience.
We are changing the way we practice medicine. Alpha Clinic helps academia and industry professionals join forces to deliver world-class technology directly to patients. “
Catriona Jamieson, MD, PhD, Director, Alpha Stem Cell Clinic, University of California, San Diego, Director of Regenerative Medicine, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine
This grant is part of a series of recent CIRM awards totaling $72 million to expand the Alpha Clinics network. The University of California, San Diego was one of three founding institutions when the project began in 2015. The new funding will expand the program to nine of his sites across the state.
In the seven years since its inception, the UC San Diego Alpha Stem Cell Clinic has initiated 59 clinical trials, treating 277 patients with novel therapies for neurodegeneration, diabetes and various forms of cancer. The trial will primarily test cell, gene and immunotherapies developed through expanded partnerships between the University of California, San Diego and local biotech and pharmaceutical companies.
Recent milestones include the completion of a Phase I trial using neural stem cells to treat spinal cord injury, in which patients showed improved motor function after treatment, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granting a Phase III Phase registration has been approved. Testing monoclonal antibodies that target blood cancer stem cells.
This funding will help expand clinical trials at both La Jolla and Hillcrest medical centers and create a clinical fellowship program to educate additional physicians on advanced regenerative medicine therapies.
Another major goal of the clinic is to improve accessibility and awareness of stem cell science. A portion of the funds will be used for new patient education programs and efforts to improve access to treatment for historically underserved communities in San Diego and Imperial County.
“Patients come to us when nothing else works, so we are thrilled to be able to bring new treatments to our community that are not available in other parts of the country.” “This comprehensive infrastructure will help us develop and validate high-quality stem cell therapies at unprecedented speed, the impact of which will be seen both in California and beyond.”
