South San Francisco, Calif. — October 30, 2025 — Leads & Copy — The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has approved awarding $27 million through three grants across the state to create a network of Community Care Centers of Excellence (CCCEs). This initiative aims to make regenerative medicine clinical trials more accessible for Californians living far from major medical centers, while also providing training and career development in the field.
The CCCE program, a first of its kind, will establish hubs to expand the geographic reach of clinical trials and approved regenerative medicine therapies across California. These trials will cover a range of conditions, from prevalent diseases such as Parkinson’s and cancer to rare diseases like sickle cell disease and autoimmune disorders.
Awardees include the Lundquist Institute in Torrance ($9 million) for a South Los Angeles center focusing on gene and cell therapies; Loma Linda University in Loma Linda ($9 million) to establish cell manufacturing capacity in the Inland Empire and Desert Region; and Community Health System in Fresno/Clovis ($8,996,101) to deliver CAR T-cell therapy in the Central Valley.
CIRM’s efforts address social determinants of health, such as location, income, and insurance coverage. The CCCEs will launch by early 2026, involving community-based partnerships to tackle barriers impacting research participation.
CIRM Chair of the Access & Affordability Working Group, Maria Gonzalez Bonneville, emphasized the importance of bringing clinical trials and treatments to underserved areas, ensuring equitable access for all Californians.
CIRM Chief Science Officer, Rosa Canet-Avilés, PhD, stated that the CCCEs will be a crucial part of the infrastructure for accelerating the delivery of therapies to patients, complementing existing Alpha Clinics Network and CIRM Patient Support Program.
Amy Adams California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) press@cirm.ca.gov
Source: California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)
Source: California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)
