Our Working Groups
Working groups are comprised of board members and national/international experts. They provide guidance and recommendations to the board. Visit our calendar of events to see upcoming working group meetings.
Learn About CIRM's Working Groups
About the Accessibility & Affordability Working Group
The AAWG is created for the purpose of providing recommendations to the ICOC intended to examine, develop, and assist with the implementation of financial models to enhance the accessibility and affordability of treatments and cures arising from institute-funded research for Californians and to enhance access to clinical trials, including reimbursement alternatives for patient-qualified costs to help achieve the objective that reimbursement covers patient expenses. This purpose will be accomplished through standards and criteria adopted by the ICOC, in order to make recommendations to the ICOC. Finally, this purpose will be accomplished through oversight reviews of grantees to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the award in order to fulfill the mission of the Act, and to report and make recommendations for subsequent actions to the ICOC or the CIRM President, as appropriate.
- Accessibility & Affordability Working Group Bylaws
- Accessibility & Affordability Working Group meeting agendas and transcripts are available in the meetings archives.
- See the Accessibility & Affordability Working Group Member List
About the Facilities Working Group
The 11-member Scientific and Medical Research Facilities Working Group makes recommendations to the Institute’s governing body, the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee (ICOC), with respect to interim and final criteria, requirements and standards for applications for, and the awarding of, grants and loans for buildings, building leases, and capital equipment. The Working Group will also make recommendations to the ICOC on oversight procedures to ensure grantees’ compliance with the terms of an award.
- Scientific & Medical Research Facilities Working Group Bylaws
- Facilities Working Group meeting agendas and transcripts are available in the meetings archives.
- Facilities Working Group Member List
About the Grants Working Group
The charge of the Scientific and Medical Research Funding Working Group (Grants Working Group) is to make recommendations to the Institute’s governing body, the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee (ICOC), with respect to research grants funded by the Institute, including consideration of the scientific merit of research facilities grants.
- Grants Working Group Bylaws
- Conflict of Interest Policy for Grants Review Working Group
- Grants Working Group meeting agendas and transcripts are available in the meeting archives.
- Grants Working Group Member List
About the Standards Working Group
The Scientific and Medical Accountability Standards Working Group makes recommendations to the Institute’s governing body, the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee (ICOC), with respect to medical and ethical standards pertaining to CIRM-funded research. The Working Group makes recommendations to the ICOC on compliance of adopted standards, as well as on modifications to standards.
- Standards Working Group Bylaws
- Conflict of Interest Policy for Standards Working Group
- Standards Working Group Meeting Procedures
- Standards Working Group Roles and Responsibilities.
- Standards working group meeting agendas and transcripts are available in the meeting archives.
Standards Working Group Recommendations
The ICOC has adopted policies recommended by the Standards Working group. These are now part of CIRM’s formal regulations. The group has also created guidance documents to help CIRM grantees interpret the formal regulations.
- Formal regulations
- Reformatted Medical and Ethical Standards Regulations (unofficial) (updated 3/9/18)
- Draft Recommendations on Human Gene Editing (updated 6/8/16)
- Guidance for Oversight of Human Stem Cell-Based Embryo Models
- Guidance for Use of Lines from NIH hESC Registry (Updated April, 2010)
- Guidance for CIRM Medical and Ethical Standards Regulations Governing Donation of Oocytes for CIRM-Funded Research
- Guidance for SCRO Approval Letters
CIRM acceptably derived stem cell lines
Title 17 California Code of Regulations Section 100080 identifies criteria for the use of stem cell lines in CIRM funded research. Acceptable hESC lines include:
- Lines previously approved by NIH prior to March 2009: All listed lines are eligible for use in CIRM-funded research.
- Lines listed on the NIH Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry: All listed line are eligible for use in CIRM-funded research.
- Lines deposited in the UK Stem Cell Bank: All listed lines are eligible for use in CIRM-funded research.
Lines derived with CIRM funding: All lines certified to be derived in accordance with CIRM regulations.
Stem cell lines certification or exemption
Use the form below to certify a stem cell lines has been derived in accordance with the CIRM regulations. Submit a form to include a line on our list of certified lines approved for use in CIRM-funded research.
Title 17 California Code of Regulations Section 100081 provides is an exemption process for lines derived prior to November 22, 2006. To be granted an exemption, the petition below must be submitted to CIRM.
