Counting CIRM Dollars: Research Awards to Total $147 Million in First Half of Next Year

Major drop from the last six months of this year

California’s $12 billion stem cell and gene therapy agency, fresh off the creation of new priorities, is proposing to award $147 million for research as the agency takes its first run at sharply focusing its spending and elevating its impact.  

The new budget covers the first six months of 2025 and falls well below what is expected to be spent during the final six months of this year -- $285 million. 

No explanation was provided for the drop in spending, but it is likely linked to the current pause on acceptance of applications along with the need for time to draw up the specifics of new programs.

Next year, most of the cash would go for clinical awards -- $73 million. Basic or discovery research would receive $63.3 million and education $10.6 million. No awards for translational research were projected for January through June of 2025. (See this presentation for details of the budget.) 

Next Wednesday, the proposed research budget