The University of Southern California (USC) Office of Research & Innovation (OORI) is delighted to announce and highlight a recent award made by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), amounting to $6M, to Dr. Mark Humayun, University Professor of Ophthalmology and Biomedical Engineering, Cornelius J. Pings Chair in Biomedical Sciences, Director, USC Ginsburg Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, and Co-Director, USC Roski Eye Institute at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. As part of this award, support was provided by internal USC entities, including the USC Stevens Center for Innovation, who facilitated the negotiation of intellectual property (IP). Additionally, OORI’s Research Initiatives & Infrastructure (RII) unit has funded Dr. Humayun twice in the past, under two different internal funding award tracks.
Dr. Humayun’s project, titled “IND-enabling program for the secretome from polarized stem cell-derived RPE cells, for the treatment of dry-age related macular degeneration,” intends to provide a treatment option for millions of patients with geographic atrophy to preserve vision. Proposed project activities include: (1) Pre-clinical testing of therapeutic candidate; (2) Manufacturing the therapeutic candidate for clinical trials; and (3) Develop clinical trial protocol for the therapeutic candidate.
Dr. Humayun’s award was made as part of California’s Stem Cell and Gene Therapy program, which awarded nearly $29M across funded projects within the program.
Congratulations to Dr. Humayun and his team!