CiRA Foundation

The CiRA Foundation is a Japanese public interest incorporated foundation dedicated to providing high-quality induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) at low cost to accelerate the realization of regenerative medicine. Established as a spin-off from Kyoto University's Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, the foundation operates the Facility for iPS Cell Therapy (FiT), a specialized manufacturing center for clinical-grade cell products. Their core project, the iPS Cell Stock for Regenerative Medicine, involves manufacturing and stockpiling iPS cell lines from healthy donors with homozygous HLA types to minimize immune rejection. In addition to manufacturing, the foundation provides quality assessment, regulatory consulting, and project management services to both academic institutions and private companies. By serving as a bridge between basic research and clinical application, CiRA Foundation plays a critical role in the global cell therapy infrastructure.