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At the lab bench (Photo by Chris Shinn); featured image for 2026 Call for Applications: NIH T32 PhD Fellowships in Developmental Biology, Stem Cells, and Regeneration

2026 Call for Applications: NIH T32 PhD Fellowships in Developmental Biology, Stem Cells, and Regeneration

All PhD students who are conducting research related to developmental biology, stem cell biology, and/or regenerative medicine are encouraged to apply for a training fellowship. We have two slots available for a …

Kidney model (Image by Midjourney); featured image for Tiny particles in urine could be the key to treating a deadly childhood kidney disease

Tiny particles in urine could be the key to treating a deadly childhood kidney disease

USC Viterbi researchers have discovered that a naturally occurring nanoparticle found in urine shows early promise as a treatment, and potentially a prenatal intervention, for a rare disease that kills newborns and …

Man pressing his hand against a painful jaw; featured image for USC researchers study impacts of synovial lymphatic system on TMJ

USC researchers study impacts of synovial lymphatic system on TMJ

A recent Nature Communications article sheds light on how fluid drainage systems may worsen jaw pain in the 5 to 8 percent of Americans affected by temporomandibular joint disorders. Problems with jaw …

A PhD student in the lab (Photo by William Vasta); featured image for 2026 USC Stem Cell/SPARK at USC Innovation Catalyst Grant in Regenerative Medicine

2026 USC Stem Cell/SPARK at USC Innovation Catalyst Grant in Regenerative Medicine

About this call The USC Stem Cell/SPARK at USC grant is focused on the support of regenerative medicine innovation (therapeutics or diagnostics). Integration of AI technology is highly encouraged. The new SPARK …

2026 USC CIRM COMPASS graduates (Photo by Amor Mathershed); featured image for Undergraduate stem cell research takes the spotlight at USC CIRM COMPASS symposium

Undergraduate stem cell research takes the spotlight at USC CIRM COMPASS symposium

USC Stem Cell prepares undergraduates to present research and become the regenerative medicine workforce of the future. Stem cell research took center stage at the year-end symposium for the USC CIRM COMPASS …

Lab grown human synthetic kidney organoids (hSKOs), also known as human kidney progenitor assembloids (hKPAs), showing the formation of radial nephrons connected to a central collecting system. (Image by Pedro Medina/Li Lab/USC Stem Cell); featured image for USC researchers launch study of the most complex lab-grown kidney structures

USC researchers launch study of the most complex lab-grown kidney structures

A $2.1 million grant from CIRM supports the new project designed to understand how mature lab-grown kidney structures, which combine the kidney’s filtering and urine-collecting components, can improve the study of disease …

Heliya Ziaei (Photo courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for Driven to impact

Driven to impact

Powered by her Ostrow experience, Heliya Ziaei is well positioned to blend research and patient care as a clinician-scientist. Though Heliya Ziaei, PhD ’26, arrived at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry …

Tiffany Wang; featured image for USC CIRM COMPASS Scholar Tiffany Wang finds belonging, embraces research and leadership

USC CIRM COMPASS Scholar Tiffany Wang finds belonging, embraces research and leadership

A first-generation college student, Tiffany Wang treasures the support and opportunities for growth she found at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. Tiffany Wang, member of the USC Leonard Davis School …

Seniors Taylor Renneker and Jason Toliao will graduate with USC Dornsife’s Class of 2026 on May 15. (Rennker photo: Courtesy of Taylor Renneker. Toliao photo: Gabriel Sakoda.); featured image for How early health challenges fueled two graduating seniors’ passion for medicine

How early health challenges fueled two graduating seniors’ passion for medicine

Driven by their own experiences with childhood illness — along with breakthrough research experience and service to the community — two stand-out USC Dornsife students look forward to medical school. Born three …

Alara Berkmen; featured image for From Maui to medicine, Viterbi helped her chart her own path

From Maui to medicine, Viterbi helped her chart her own path

CLASS OF 2026 – The daughter of Turkish immigrant physicians, Maui-raised Alara Berkmen is graduating from USC Viterbi with a bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering on the pre-med track, a business club she …

Reesarchers at the USC Age Tech Symposium; featured image for USC Age Tech Symposium: Combining the latest tools with human-centered care

USC Age Tech Symposium: Combining the latest tools with human-centered care

During the 2026 USC Age Tech Symposium, presenters discussed how advances in technology, including new artificial intelligence models and biomedical innovation, can transform aging research, care delivery, and health systems – but …

Keyue Shen (Photo courtesy of Keyue Shen); featured image for How watching living cells could transform disease research and treatment

How watching living cells could transform disease research and treatment

USC biomedical engineer Keyue Shen has been elected to the AIMBE College of Fellows for developing tools that measure how living cells signal and interact in real time – without destroying them. …

Eye with tears; featured image for USC-led team receives funding to build next-generation medical device that uses tears to monitor health

USC-led team receives funding to build next-generation medical device that uses tears to monitor health

Researchers from USC and the California Institute of Technology aim to develop a tiny sensor and drug delivery system, implanted near the eye, with dry eye disease as its first target. A …

Researcher in the lab (Photo by Chris Shinn); featured image for 2026–2027 Broad Collaborative Challenge Grant for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows

2026–2027 Broad Collaborative Challenge Grant for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows

To stimulate interdisciplinary and creative trainee-directed stem cell research Overview USC Stem Cell invites applications for the Broad Collaborative Challenge Grant for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows. The goal of the program …

Impromptu McMahon lab meeting; featured image for USC honors stem cell leader Andy McMahon with a lifetime achievement award

USC honors stem cell leader Andy McMahon with a lifetime achievement award

The award recognizes McMahon’s career advancing developmental biology and building scientific communities, including USC Stem Cell. As a pioneer in developmental biology and founder of USC Stem Cell, Andy McMahon, PhD, FRS, …

Red indicates mouse embryonic stem cells and green indicates mouse epiblast stem cells. The two cell types were co-cultured under GSK3α inhibition and maintained their distinct identities. (Image by Duo Wang/Ying Lab/USC Stem Cell); featured image for A “stemness checkpoint” helps control stem cell identity

A “stemness checkpoint” helps control stem cell identity

Building on the concept that blocking differentiation into specialized cell types maintains stem cells, USC and NIH scientists identify GSK3α as a checkpoint across diverse stem cell types. A study published in …

Illustration of a heart, kidneys and therapeutic drugs; featured image for How an unexpected finding turned into a kidney disease startup

How an unexpected finding turned into a kidney disease startup

USC researcher Eunji Chung spent over a decade learning to steer nanoparticles through the body. Now she’s using that knowledge to take on one of the most common inherited kidney disorders. Eunji …

Clockwise from top left, Paula Cannon, Alan Epstein, Heinz-Josef Lenz and Bodour Salhia (Photos by Don Milici and Ricardo Carrasco III); featured image for Four Keck School of Medicine of USC researchers elected as senior members of the National Academy of Inventors

Four Keck School of Medicine of USC researchers elected as senior members of the National Academy of Inventors

Honorees have created technologies for fighting cancer and other diseases by harnessing the immune system, DNA and the mechanisms that control gene expression. The National Academy of Inventors (NAI), a nonprofit member …

Mohamed Abou-el-Enein and Amaia Cadinanos-Garai (Photo by Anson Cheung); featured image for USC physician-scientist Mohamed Abou-el-Enein named Outstanding New Investigator by the American Society of Gene + Cell Therapy

USC physician-scientist Mohamed Abou-el-Enein named Outstanding New Investigator by the American Society of Gene + Cell Therapy

In addition, Abou-el-Enein, lab member Amaia Cadinanos-Garai and their co-authors received the Best of Molecular Therapy Award for their paper describing a new tool for identifying which CAR T cells are best …

PhD student Connor Fausto at Stem Cell Day (Photo by Wayne Lewis); featured image for Stem Cell Day demystifies the world of science for high school students

Stem Cell Day demystifies the world of science for high school students

With support from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), USC Stem Cell welcomes teens to campus for education and outreach that opens their eyes to future career possibilities. The buzzer chimed, …