CIRM's Priority Review: Rare Disease Research Advocates Hear Assurances

Optimizing investments in rare diseases to be discussed in August

Rosa Canet-Avilés, leader of CIRM’s priority review, discussed rare diseases last week. CIRM TV image

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO -- California’s $12 billion stem cell and gene therapy program delivered good news last week to the rare disease community, declaring that the agency is not giving up on funding research on afflictions that affect only a small number of people. 

The declaration came during a meeting here involving a re-examination of the spending priorities of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), the official name of the stem cell agency. The priority review involves an evaluation of whether more spending should go toward diseases that affect most Californians. 

“Importantly, this expansion does not mean that CIRM will cease funding in rare diseases,” said Rosa Canet-Avilés, vice president of scientific programs and education, who is leading the priority review. 

“On the contrary, since CIRM is actively developing