UC Davis Health’s Alpha Stem Cell Clinic has received an $8 million grant renewal from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). The funding will allow the clinic to expand its successful clinical trials operation and advance toward onsite manufacturing of therapies. The clinic, along with the Alpha Clinic Network sites, works to ensure that cell and gene therapy clinical trial resources are available to the diverse patient population in California. “Since its conception, the UC Davis Alpha Clinic has played a leading role in the development of cell and gene therapy protocols by providing the infrastructure and expertise for complicated stem cell trials,” said Jan Nolta, PhD, Director of the Stem Cell Program and the UC Davis Gene Therapy Center in the Institute for Regenerative Cures at UC Davis Health. “We are very proud of our partnership with CIRM and thankful for their continual support for stem cell research that makes a difference.” The grant will also finance programs that enhance patient recruitment for clinical trials, especially those from underserved communities and with rare diseases. It will allow for new staff training and regulatory support for the clinic.