Right Turn: Moving RM discoveries to the market, in Ontario

.Today is a big day for the regenerative medicine (RM) community in Ontario, Canada.

Minister of Research and Innovation, Reza Moridi, just announced that the Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine (OIRM) will receive a new $25 million commitment* (in addition to the $3.1 million committed in November 2014) to invest in translational research for degenerative diseases such as heart disease, autoimmune disorders, diabetes and vision loss. The Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM), the commercialization partner for OIRM, will continue to seek opportunities to develop and commercialize the research being supported through OIRM.

Here’s a helpful infographic on moving Canadian stem cell research through the clinical trials process to become an approved medicine. It also features eight trials, seven of which are being led by OIRM researchers. If you’d like to delve further into one of these trials, you can read about Dr. Michael Fehlings’ (University Health Network) efforts to test the safety of neural stem cells used to regenerate thoracic and cervical spinal cord injuries.

*$25 million over five years

Our regular feature, Right Turn, appears every Friday and we invite you to submit your own blog to info(at)ccrm.ca. We encourage you to be creative and use the right (!) side of your brain. We dare you to make us laugh! Right Turn features cartoons, photos, videos and other content to amuse, educate and encourage discussion.

As always, we welcome your feedback in the comment section.

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Stacey Johnson

Stacey Johnson is the editor of Signals and a contributor. For 25 years, Stacey has been providing strategic communications counsel to government, corporate, technology and health organizations. She began her career at the CTV Television Network and then moved to Hill & Knowlton Canada where she advised clients in a variety of industries and sectors. Stacey is the Vice President, Communications and Marketing for CCRM, a leader in developing and commercializing regenerative medicine-based technologies and cell and gene therapies. She has a Master's degree in Public Relations. You can follow her on Twitter @msstaceyerin.

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