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Leadership Update at the Stem Cell Research Center

Register Today: Feb 24-25, 2026 - 2026 Featured Community Lecture & 13th Annual Stem Cell Symposium

About Us

Today’s UC Irvine Stem Cell Research Center is a dynamic center encompassing a diverse array of interdisciplinary investigators that span the schools of Medicine, Biological Sciences, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Engineering, Arts, and the Program in Public Health. Our state-of-the-art, LEED Platinum certified research and clinical building houses 25 of our 65 center faculty members.    

Center faculty have obtained more than $275 million dollars in grant and foundation funds, including over $165 million dollars from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Our research programs include two National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored T32 training grants, NIH R25 training program, 2 CIRM training grants supporting trainees from undergraduate through to postdoctoral and clinical fellows, a NIAMS P30 skin biology research center grant, state-of-the-art shared equipment and research services cores, community lecture series, an annual stem cell science symposium, and numerous seminar series.

What can we do for you ?

Research areas, available resources and clinical trials

Learn about our clinical research and trials

Learn how you can support stem cell research at UCI

See the latest news, videos and upcoming events

News

UCI Health Tests Promising Cell Therapy for Lupus

UCI Health opens clinical testing FT819, an investigational CAR T-cell therapy for lupus patients.  The treatment shows promise for long-term remission, with a California participant experiencing significant symptom improvement.  Dr. Sheetal Desai leads the Alpha Clinic trial site.

$2M CIRM Award Funds UC Irvine Huntington Disease Research
UC Irvine neuroscientist Leslie Thompson awarded funding from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to investigate why Huntington's disease destroys some brain cells while sparing others, using stem cell models to identify new therapeutic targets.
Light Signals Improve Heart Function in New Study
UC Irvine researchers breakthrough in light-triggered cardiac therapy represents groundbreaking innovation in heart treatment. Dr. Ardoña's team developed synthetic biomolecules that convert light into healing signals, offering hope for patients through non-invasive pacemaking technologies and advanced stem cell treatments.

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Events

Community lectures, special events and opportunities to engage. Find details for future events here.

16 Jan.

Retinal Cell Therapy: Updates and Challenges

Mandeep Singh, M.D., Ph.D. - Johns Hopkins
Gross Hall, Thorp Conference Center 4001
January 16, 2026 | 11:00 AM—12:00 PM Pacific Time




23 Jan.

Dissect the inflammatory adaptation circuit of epithelial stem cells

Yuxuan Miao, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor, University of Chicago
Gross Hall, Thorp Conference Center 4001 & Hybrid Event
January 23, 2026| 11:00 AM—12:00 PM Pacific Time

Zoom Link: https://uci.zoom.us/j/96362697873 
Meeting ID: 963 6269 7873 

27 Jan.

Combating Brain Fog After Cancer Therapies
Munjal Acharya, PhD & Casey Hudson, PhD Candidate
Gross Hall, Thorp Conference Center 4001
January 27, 2026 | 7:00-8:00 PM Pacific Time

10 Mar.

Timing Is Everything: Circadian Regulation of Intestinal Stem Cells
Selma Masri, PhD & Amy Song, Graduate Student
Gross Hall, Thorp Conference Center 4001
March 10, 2026 | 7:00-8:00 PM Pacific Time