The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) recently announced the appointment of Dr. Deborah Deas to its Governing Board. This Board, called the ICOC, oversees CIRM operations, including awarding of funding for stem cell research. Dr. Deas is the newly appointed Dean and CEO for Clinical Affairs at the University of California, Riverside, Dr. Deas is the first administrator from UCR to serve on this Committee.
More information on CIRM can be found at: https://www.cirm.ca.gov/

The press release from CIRM appears below.

Dr. Deas was appointed by State Treasurer John Chiang, who praised her for her: "Passion to improve health for underserved populations and to diversify the health care work force. She is committed to making the benefits of advanced medicine available to all Californians."

"It is a great honor to be selected by the State Treasurer to serve on the CIRM Governing Board," says Dr. Deas. "Stem cell research holds tremendous promise for new treatments for a variety of serious diseases, including cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. I am particularly honored to contribute to CIRM's public mission to help patients with these unmet medical needs."

Dr. Deas, who is board certified in adult psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry and addiction psychiatry, is the first representative on the Board from California's Inland Empire.

"We are delighted to have someone with Dr. Deas' broad experience and expertise join us at CIRM," says Jonathan Thomas, Ph.D., J.D., Chair of the Board. "Her medical background and her commitment to diversity and inclusion are important qualities to bring to a Board that is striving to deliver stem cell treatments to patients, and to reflect the diversity of California."

She earned her B.S. in biology from the College of Charleston, and followed that up by getting her M.P.H. from the University of South Carolina. She obtained her M.D. from the Medical University of South Carolina where she completed both her residency in psychiatry and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry.

Her research has primarily focused on the impact of substance abuse on youth and adolescents.

U.C. Riverside's Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, Paul D'Anieri praised Dr. Deas and said she is a great addition to the CIRM Board: "Deborah Deas is a public servant at heart. Her own values and goals to help underserved patient populations align with the goals of CIRM to revolutionize medicine and bring new, innovative treatments to all patients who can benefit. I am confident that Dr. Deas' service will have a lasting positive impact for CIRM and for the people of California."