EDUC3 Awards: Funding Opportunity for Summer Programs to Accelerate Regenerative Medicine Knowledge (SPARK) Grant

Objective
The mission of California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is to accelerate world class science to deliver transformative regenerative medicine treatments in an equitable manner to a diverse California and world. In September 2024, CIRM released its Strategic Allocation Framework (SAF), a structured and data-driven process guiding how the Agency prioritizes its funding and programs.
To this end, CIRM will periodically issue Requests for Applications (RFA) to support valuable mission-specific conferences that complement CIRM’s Programs and align with the Strategic Allocation Framework. Recipients of these conference grants are expected to collaborate with CIRM to fulfill a specific need as defined in the RFA.
EDUC3: Funding Opportunity for Summer Programs to Accelerate Regenerative Medicine Knowledge (SPARK)
Objective
To inspire, educate, and motivate high school students to become involved in CIRM’s mission to accelerate world-class science and deliver transformative regenerative medicine treatments in an equitable manner to a diverse California and world
To provide summer training opportunities and broaden participation in stem cell, gene therapy, and related research to high school students, including those who might not otherwise have opportunities for summer research internships due to social, geographic, or other constraints
Scope
SPARK Awards support mentored, hands-on summer internships for high school students in regenerative medicine related science. Each program is led by a qualified program director who is responsible for coordinating all activities supported by the program, including recruitment and selection of qualified trainees and tracking program alumni. Additional activities include educational enhancements, patient engagement, community outreach, and participation in a culminating summer conference. To broaden internship possibilities, an applicant institution may collaborate with other organizations to provide broader program access to candidate trainees/interns.