USC Stem Cell’s Chuck Murry shows heart for local third-graders through the medical and cancer STEM programs
USC’s Medical STEM Program brings pig hearts, pulse oximeters, and a world of possibility to local third graders. At Vermont Avenue Elementary School, a class of third graders stared wide-eyed as Chuck …
Tricking tumors into marking themselves for destruction
New research from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering harnesses focused ultrasound to reprogram solid tumors, making them more effective targets for immune cells. USC biomedical engineers have found a way to …
Researchers invent new AI tool to automate detection of cancer in blood samples
Innovation detects cancer cells in blood samples (liquid biopsies) in as little as 10 minutes and identifies hard-to-find cells without humans in-the-loop. When cancer spreads, tiny amounts of cells can break away …
Discovery may point to cell of origin for Ewing sarcoma
New study suggests that neural crest cells are reprogrammed into tumor-forming cells, reshaping the understanding of this childhood cancer. For decades, scientists have been puzzled by two enduring mysteries around Ewing sarcoma. …
Next-generation CAR T cells could expand solid cancer treatment options
Using cell cultures and animal models, researchers from the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at Keck School of Medicine of USC showed that innovative ways to further engineer CAR T cells can …
USC Stem Cell-led study generates authentic embryonic stem cells from birds
Scientists discover that egg yolk is a key to establishing authentic embryonic stem cells from chickens and seven other avian species, as reported in Nature Biotechnology. Egg whites may be perfect for …
USC COMPASS student Alara Berkmen wins prestigious Astronaut Scholarship
Alara Berkmen, a biomedical engineering student, is recognized for leadership and dedication to cancer research. Alara Berkmen, a USC Viterbi senior studying biomedical engineering, recently won the prestigious 2025 Astronaut Scholarship award …
Meet USC’s CIRM Scholar Alumni: Alex Qiuyu Guo, Senior Scientist for Discovery Biomarkers at Amgen
Although Alex Qiuyu Guo is now Senior Scientist for Discovery Biomarkers at Amgen, he admits that he didn’t start off being devoted to science. “I was more interested in history,” said Guo, …
Meet USC’s CIRM Scholar Alumni: Vivian Medina, Senior Manager of Digital and Data Analytics at Takeda
As the Senior Manager of Digital and Data Analytics at Takeda in Los Angeles, Vivian Medina pursues her career in science with the ultimate goal of helping people. A lifelong Angeleno whose …
Meet USC’s CIRM Scholar Alumni: Suhasni Gopalakrishnan, Director at Allogene Therapeutics
“I feel like I’m a person who goes with the flow,” said Suhasni Gopalakrishnan, Director at Allogene Therapeutics in San Francisco. Going with the flow has led Gopalakrishnan to many fascinating places. …
Meet USC’s CIRM Scholar Alumni: Noah Merin, Assistant Professor at Cedars-Sinai
For physician-scientist Noah Merin, the form of stem cell transplantation known as bone marrow transplantation remains the “coolest thing in medicine” and the focus of his career. “I do bone marrow transplantation …
USC team develops a powerful new analytical tool to advance CAR T cell therapy research
The comprehensive analytical platform uses laser technology to analyze CAR T cells and has already revealed ways to optimize their manufacturing, including how to identify when CAR T cells are likely to …
New “smart” immune cells: A breakthrough for long-lasting tumor destruction
USC Viterbi researchers have engineered a new immune cell that when activated by ultrasound can continuously sense and destroy cancer cells for extended periods. Imagine a super-charged immune cell that can launch …
AAAS elects Keck School of Medicine of USC molecular biologist Yali Dou as 2025 fellow
Dou has broken new ground in the basic understanding of an enzyme that can cause leukemia and other cancers, and harnessed that knowledge at USC to develop potential therapies. Molecular biologist Yali …
Two USC innovators—Preet Chaudhary and Michael Selsted—honored by the National Academy of Inventors
Harnessing the body’s natural defenses, these researchers are advancing the future of immune-based treatments to develop breakthroughs in treating diseases ranging from rheumatoid arthritis and sepsis to cancer. Two researchers from the …
Turn back the clock on aging
There’s no way to stop the march of time, but innovative research by USC scholars points the way to a longer, healthier and more vibrant life. About 10 years ago, when George …
Charting the future of health care at USC
Through the alignment of the medical system and health science schools in President Carol Folt’s Health Sciences 3.0 ‘moonshot,’ USC will meet the challenges and opportunities of an ever-evolving health landscape. In …
New CRISPR toolkit to allow remote-controlled genome editing
USC Viterbi biomedical engineers harness focused ultrasound to revolutionize CRISPR’s capabilities to treat countless diseases. Thanks to CRISPR, our medical specialists will soon have unprecedented control over how they treat and prevent …
USC Stem Cell mouse study sheds light on the secret to maintaining a youthful immune system
What keeps some immune systems youthful and effective in warding off age-related diseases? In a new paper published in Cellular & Molecular Immunology, USC Stem Cell scientist Rong Lu and her collaborators …
USC’s Rong Lu and Caltech’s Michael B. Elowitz win the NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award for their new approach to study blood and immune cell production in bone marrow
Is it possible to study the production of blood and immune cells inside the bone marrow? For the first time ever, the answer is yes, thanks to a new approach pioneered by …