Stem Cell Research

Advancing Cell and Gene Therapies Through Education, Advocacy, and Research Excellence

Highlights of our Alpha Clinic

  • Part of the CIRM Alpha Clinics Network
  • Promotes and facilitates scientific collaborations across California and beyond
  • Provides centralized clinical research infrastructure support including regenerative medicine education, workforce development, and patient navigation
  • Accelerates and optimize the implementation of clinical research trials 
Mission

The UCLA Alpha Clinic provides the necessary infrastructural, medical and operational expertise to effectively drive novel stem cell therapies to clinical trials and ultimately change clinical practice. To accomplish our mission, we are working to achieve the following five goals:

  • Create a center of excellence for cell-based therapeutics that addresses the unique challenges of testing and delivering novel cell therapies by integrating and building upon the extensive experience and many strengths of UCLA and our partners
  • Build interactive and highly trained teams and electronic data sharing systems to accelerate and translate discovery to improve human health
  • Transform the delivery of cell therapeutics through our proven Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facilities
  • Advance, expand and integrate educational opportunities to inform patients, families, communities, and clinicians of the full range of scientifically sound and medically appropriate, regulated stem cell-based clinical trials, while providing objective information about potentially dangerous and unproven procedures
  • Serve as a regional, national and international resource for evidence-based best practices in stem cell treatments.
Funding

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is a funding agency established by Californians to accelerate regenerative medicine research to deliver treatments for patients with unmet medical needs. 

Established in 2004 through the passage of Proposition 71, CIRM was initially funded with $3 billion from the state of California to support ongoing research, and in 2020, was funded again with another $5.5 billion through Proposition 14 to continue the Agency’s important work. 

CIRM has provided billions in funding to support stem cell, genetic research, and development programs in its portfolio. Through the Agency’s research, infrastructure, and education programs, CIRM aims to transform the field of regenerative medicine, stimulate economic growth, and improve the lives of diverse communities throughout the state. 

For more information, go to www.cirm.ca.gov

Active Trials

For more information on clinical trials at the UCLA Alpha Clinic that are active and recruiting, please visit the Active Trials page.

Map of California with arrows pointing out alpha clinic locations

The Alpha Clinic Network

We are 1 of 9 California Institute for Regenerative (CIRM) funded clinics, alongside Cedars-Sinai, City of Hope, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, USC+CHLA, Stanford University and UC San Francisco.Together, these nine sites comprise the CIRM Alpha Clinics Network.

Learn More Here

Quick Links

Discover More about the Alpha Clinic

CIRM Alpha Clinics Network

Find out more about CIRM and our partners across California

Sickle Cell Disease Resources

Explore patient, caregiver, and community resources on stem cell medicine for sickle cell disease

Our Activities

Find out more about our ongoing and past initiatives

CIRM 2025 Annual Report

Learn more about progress being made at the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine

Patient Guide to Stem Cell Treatments

Provided through the International Society for Stem Cell Research (SSCR)

Clinical Trials at UCLA

Find clinical trials at UCLA and start the eligibility screening process

Alpha Clinic News

Contact Us

For General Inquiries:
Please send us an email at alphaclinic@mednet.ucla.edu.

For Patients:
We are unable to offer medical advice through email. Please reach out to your healthcare provider. 
If you would like to be seen at UCLA, please contact our Physician Referral Service.