Where Are They Now: Jake Javier

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The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) in partnership with the University of Southern California (USC) recently hosted the 2024 CIRM Trainee Network Conference, which provided trainees from CIRM's education and training programs an opportunity to engage with patient advocates and other professionals in the field.

On the first day, Jake Javier took the stage not only to share his experience as a clinical trial patient, but as a living testament to the power of medical innovation and personal resilience.

At the conference, he highlighted the life-altering spinal cord injury (SCI) he experienced the day before his high school graduation and how his story has evolved into one of remarkable recovery and achievement.

A Stem Cell Clinical Trial Pioneer

Jake's journey took a pivotal turn when he became one of the first participants in a groundbreaking clinical trial involving human embryonic stem cells (hESCs).

At just 28 days post-injury, he received 10 million stem cells injected into his spinal cord, marking the beginning of a long and uncertain recovery. Reflecting on the experience, Jake recalls, "It was an amazing opportunity to be involved in something very exciting that could potentially help my recovery. [Existing data from the first phase of the trial] showed that it was safe. I didn't have much to lose, so I said yes."

While the outcome was not an overnight miracle, this experience laid the foundation for Jake's remarkable progress. He says the recovery from the point of the trial to now has been immense-a lot more than he would have expected, including regaining some function in his right hand.

[Link]The 1st Annual Spinal Cord Injury Investor Symposium

A Challenging Yet Transformative Journey

Determined to regain his independence, Jake set ambitious goals: returning to school and pursuing a future in biomedical engineering.

After months of intense rehabilitation and learning to navigate life from a wheelchair, Jake not only graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in Biomedical Engineering but also went on to earn a master's degree from Duke University. He described his journey through rehabilitation as challenging yet transformative, stating, "The first year after my injury was the most painful and important year of my life."

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Today, Jake is not just surviving-he's thriving. He has traveled extensively, forged lifelong friendships, recently got engaged to the love of his life, and started his career as a quality engineer at ClearPoint Neuro in Carlsbad, California, working on medical and neurosurgical devices. His experiences, shaped by the challenges of SCI and the opportunities provided by cutting-edge research, have fueled his passion for helping others impacted by neurological injuries.

Jake's story is a powerful testament to resilience and the transformative impact of medical innovation. From a life-altering injury to a fulfilling career, Jake continues to push the boundaries of what's possible, inspiring others along the way.

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To date, CIRM has funded 109 stem cell and gene therapy clinical trials to find treatments for a variety of diseases and conditions. To learn more about CIRM-funded clinical trials, visit this page.

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