Dr. Lozito’s research compares skeletal regeneration in lizards and salamanders. The ultimate goal is to apply this knowledge to improve regeneration in humans.

Stories

Class of 2025 BME graduate Alex Kuncz holding a crested gecko (Correlophus ciliatus) from New Caledonia. This is one of the few gecko species that do not regenerate their tails, which allows Kuncz and his colleagues to better study which cells and processes are responsible for regeneration. (Image courtesy of Alex Kuncz); featured image for Leaping lizards! Class of 2025 grad looks to reptiles to help ACL injuries

Leaping lizards! Class of 2025 grad looks to reptiles to help ACL injuries

Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering graduating senior Alex Kuncz is studying how lizards regenerate their tails to improve orthopedic treatments. USC Viterbi graduating BME senior Alex Kuncz wants to help …

USC CIRM COMPASS scholars with stem cell faculty members Senta Georgia, Francesca Mariani and Louise Menendez (Photo courtesy of Senta Georgia); featured image for Guided by COMPASS, USC undergraduates navigate stem cell research at inaugural symposium

Guided by COMPASS, USC undergraduates navigate stem cell research at inaugural symposium

Thirty undergraduates gathered to share their research at the first year-end symposium for USC CIRM COMPASS, a comprehensive two-year program designed to prepare juniors and seniors for careers in stem cell biology …

Students at the Keck School of Medicine of USC (Photo by William Vasta); featured image for Meet the nine scholarship winners in USC’s stem cell master’s program

Meet the nine scholarship winners in USC’s stem cell master’s program

This year, philanthropic giving supported scholarships for nine students in USC’s master of science (MS) program in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. Launched in 2014 as one of the only programs …

USC Stem Cell scientists watched the sun set over the Pacific Ocean during a Q&A with keynote speaker Aileen Anderson. (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

Getting lost in translation—the clinical kind—at USC’s stem cell retreat

At the retreat for USC’s Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, newly appointed leader Chuck Murry shared a vision as sweeping as the panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean from …

A gene control element for human outer ear development shows activity in the gills (green) of a 2-week old zebrafish (Image by Mathi Thiruppathy/Crump Lab/USC Stem Cell); featured image for An earful of gill: USC Stem Cell study points to the evolutionary origin of the mammalian outer ear

An earful of gill: USC Stem Cell study points to the evolutionary origin of the mammalian outer ear

The outer ear is unique to mammals, but its evolutionary origin has remained a mystery. According to a new study published in Nature from the USC Stem Cell lab of Gage Crump, …

In the zebrafish inner ear, a cell type known as supporting cells (magenta) gives rise to new sensory hearing cells (blue). The study reveals a set of DNA control elements critical for supporting cells to regenerate hair cells after injury in zebrafish, lizards and other regenerative species. (Image by Tuo Shi/Crump and Lozito labs/USC Stem Cell); featured image for USC Stem Cell study breaks the silence on how fish and lizards regenerate hearing

USC Stem Cell study breaks the silence on how fish and lizards regenerate hearing

A new USC Stem Cell study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) has identified key gene regulators that enable some deafened animals—including fish and lizards—to naturally regenerate …

Building an Incubator for Medicine of the 21st Century; featured image for Building an Incubator for Medicine of the 21st Century

Building an Incubator for Medicine of the 21st Century

USC Stem Cell is pleased to introduce our new publication. We hope you’ll enjoy reflecting back on our history, while looking ahead to the transformative times to come. Read now at https://stemcell.keck.usc.edu/wp-content/themes/stemcell/incubator.

A green anole lizard regenerating its tail (Image by Ariel Vonk/ Lozito Lab); featured image for Researchers unlock mystery of cartilage regeneration in lizards

Researchers unlock mystery of cartilage regeneration in lizards

Scientists from the Keck School of Medicine of USC identify key cells involved in the process of cartilage regeneration in lizards—a discovery that could offer insights into novel approaches to treating osteoarthritis. …

Thomas Lozito and Donald the crested gecko (Photo by Sergio Bianco); featured image for A Tale of tails: How reptile regeneration could help humans

A Tale of tails: How reptile regeneration could help humans

“I’ve always been interested in science and in lizards. I got my first pet lizard when I was around 4 years old, and it was love at first sight,” says Thomas Lozito, …

Kuo-Chang (Ted) Tseng from the Crump Lab and Michelle Hung from the Ichida Lab enjoy a beachside brainstorm.; featured image for Scientists feel the sand between their toes at the retreat for USC’s stem cell department

Scientists feel the sand between their toes at the retreat for USC’s stem cell department

A pair of young scientists picked up a piece of driftwood and thoughtfully traced a series of letters in the wet sand of Ventura Beach. The word “microglia”—referring to the immune cells …

mourning gecko; featured image for Aided by stem cells, a lizard regenerates a perfect tail for the first time in 250 million years

Aided by stem cells, a lizard regenerates a perfect tail for the first time in 250 million years

Lizards can regrow severed tails, making them the closest relative to humans that can regenerate a lost appendage. But in lieu of the original tail that includes a spinal column and nerves, …

Thomas Lozito; featured image for The childhood moments that launched their careers as explorers

The childhood moments that launched their careers as explorers

Innocent curiosity can turn discovery into life’s purpose. A toddler locks eyes with a turtle for the first time; a mischievous teen concocts stink bombs in the garage. However their careers develop, …

lizard; featured image for Lizards’ immune systems are not only for fighting germs, but also for regrowing severed tails

Lizards’ immune systems are not only for fighting germs, but also for regrowing severed tails

The human immune system has been getting a bad rap lately. However, the lizard immune system is finally receiving its due credit for enabling lizards to regrow severed tails. In a recent …

Thomas Lozito and Donald the crested gecko (Photo by Sergio Bianco); featured image for USC Stem Cell scientist Thomas Lozito looks to lizards in hopes of healing humans

USC Stem Cell scientist Thomas Lozito looks to lizards in hopes of healing humans

Some students sell blood plasma to make extra cash during graduate school. Thomas Lozito, a new assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery and stem cell biology and regenerative medicine at USC, sold poison …