Dr. Andy McMahon and the judges of the USC Stem Cell Image of the Month contest would like to congratulate our December 2013 winner, Dr. Hu Zhao, DDS, PhD, a research associate in Dr. Yang Chai’s Lab in the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology at the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. His winning image of a series of mouse skulls is currently on display in the Foyer of the Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC.

The image reveals stem cells, labeled with the protein Gli1, in the sutures between the calvaria bones in the upper part of the cranium. Among other things, these stem cells support the postnatal turnover and injury repair of the calvaria bones.

Zhao should contact Dr. Ruffins to claim his prizes: a high-quality print of his winning entry and $20.

Thank you to everyone who entered this month’s contest. All entries will be posted on the USC Stem Cell Facebook page (facebook.com/uscstemcell). We look forward to receiving the entries for the January 2013 contest, which has an entry deadline of January 31.

About the USC Stem Cell Image of the Month Contest
The Image of the Month contest invites USC stem cell researchers from across the university to submit high-resolution images or artistic renditions. The goal is to encourage and showcase the scientific excellence and creativity of USC’s research enterprise.

Each winner receives a $20 gift card and a print of his or her entry, which is also displayed in the Foyer of the Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC. All entries are posted on the USC Stem Cell Website.

USC faculty, post-doctoral researchers or students wishing to enter should submit their images, one-sentence informative captions, names and laboratory affiliations to Dr. Seth Ruffins at ruffins@usc.edu by the last day of each month.