Three Stanford scholars receive US$31 million to carry out stem cell clinical trials

Three medical researchers from Stanford University received a total of nearly $31 million in funding from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine for the first human trials of stem cells to treat stroke, heart failure, and a brain tumor and spinal cord tumor

Researchers are Gary Steinberg, MD, professor of neurosurgery and neuroscience; Crystal Mackall, MD, professor of pediatrics and medicine, director of Stanford Cancer Cell Therapy Center; Joseph Wu, MD, professor of cardiovascular medicine and radiology , Director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute

CIRM Chairman and CEO Maria Millan, MD, said in a press release issued by the institute: "The three grants approved today promote regenerative medicine clinical trials for brain tumors, stroke, heart failure, debilitating and fatal diseases.

Look at stroke treatment

Steinberg is the Bernard and Ronni Lacroute-William Randolph Hearst Professor of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience.

"Our goal is to prove safety and feasibility," Steinberg said, "but our ultimate goal is to restore the motor and neurological function of stroke patients

Research on new uses of CAR-T cell therapy

Ernest and Amelia Gallo Family Professor Mark Carl (Mackall) received nearly 12 million U.

"These cancers afflict children and young people, and most of them die within 18 months of being diagnosed," Mackall said

Hope to improve heart function

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"This phase one trial will determine whether it is safe to transplant cardiomyocytes derived from these stem cells, and if so, it will help us determine the appropriate dose to use in subsequent phase two trials," Wu said

More research on the use of stem cells

Four other Stanford University researchers also received awards from CIRM to promote the discovery of new stem cell and gene therapy technologies that may have a wide range of uses in patient care

Marius Wernig, MD and professor of pathology, received nearly $1.

Phillip Yang, a professor of cardiovascular medicine, received a prize of nearly 1.

Doctor of Medicine, Professor of Pediatrics Kathleen Sakamoto and Professor Shelagh Galligan received nearly 850,000 US dollars in funding for the research of small molecule inhibitors of Diamond-Blackfan anemia protein

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