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Human development (Image courtesy of Evseenko Lab); featured image for Whittier Foundation backs new group of research projects

Whittier Foundation backs new group of research projects

The L.K. Whittier Foundation has been a critical source of funding for cancer research at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, supporting clinicians and …

A window into the mammalian middle ear (Image by Camilla Teng/Crump Lab); featured image for Researchers listen to zebrafish to understand human hearing loss

Researchers listen to zebrafish to understand human hearing loss

Can a fish with a malformed jaw tell us something about hearing loss in mice and humans? The answer is yes, according to a new publication in Scientific Reports.

Clockwise from top left: Andy McMahon, Rohit Varma, Jonathan Samet and Donna Spruijt-Metz (Photos courtesy of USC); featured image for NIH funding helps Americans live longer and healthier

NIH funding helps Americans live longer and healthier

The nation’s medical research agency, the National Institutes of Health, funds research to help Americans live longer and healthier. Some 148 Nobel Prize winners have received support from the NIH, demonstrating how …

Kidney organoid (Image by Tracy Tran/McMcMahon Lab); featured image for USC’s stem cell scientists secure the dollars to fight disease

USC’s stem cell scientists secure the dollars to fight disease

The price of progress is not only the energy and talent of stem cell scientists, but also the research dollars that support their discoveries. In recent months, faculty members have secured numerous …

Jay R. Lieberman (Photo by Les Dunseith); featured image for Jay R. Lieberman receives $2.2 million NIH grant to fund research on healing difficult bone injuries

Jay R. Lieberman receives $2.2 million NIH grant to fund research on healing difficult bone injuries

Jay R. Lieberman, chair and professor of orthopedic surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California has received a five-year, $2.2 million grant from the National Institutes …

From left, D'Juan Farmer and Gage Crump (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

Stem cell scientist D’Juan Farmer named inaugural Choi Family Postdoctoral Fellow at USC

D’Juan Farmer grew up in a neighborhood where attending college—let alone pursuing a PhD or postdoctoral training—was not the expectation. Now, he’s earned the inaugural Choi Family Postdoctoral Fellowship, which provides support …

From left, Nelson Poliran Jr. and Charles Bramlett (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Countdown to Commencement: Nelson Poliran Jr.—failure driven success

Countdown to Commencement: Nelson Poliran Jr.—failure driven success

“Focus on one goal, be open minded and be persistent.” These are wise words from Nelson Poliran Jr., a standout scientist-in-training at USC. Poliran’s academic success hasn’t always come easily, though.

Barbara Kolo and Andy McMahon (Photo by Richard Carrasco); featured image for Artist plus researcher equals infinite inspiration at the Keck School of Medicine of USC

Artist plus researcher equals infinite inspiration at the Keck School of Medicine of USC

What happens when you pair 14 artists with 14 USC biomedical researchers? The answer is currently on display at the Hoyt Gallery on the Health Sciences Campus of the Keck School of …

Leonardo Morsut (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for From professional volleyball to stem cell biology, Leonardo Morsut is at the top of his game

From professional volleyball to stem cell biology, Leonardo Morsut is at the top of his game

For USC Stem Cell researcher Leonardo Morsut, the word “set” refers to a collection of scientific data. “Set” is also the prelude to spiking a volleyball over the net—something he used to do for a living as a professional athlete in Italy.

Newly regenerated muscle fibers (Image courtesy of Joseph T. Rodgers); featured image for Alerting stem cells to hurry up and heal

Alerting stem cells to hurry up and heal

Accelerated healing isn’t just for superheroes. A new study in Cell Reports suggests a way that mere mortals can potentially speed their recovery from a wide variety of injuries. “Our research shows …

Gage Crump; featured image for University honors Gage Crump and other faculty for mentorship

University honors Gage Crump and other faculty for mentorship

USC Stem Cell scientist Gage Crump is one of seven faculty members with ties to the Health Sciences Campus receiving USC Mentoring Awards. The awards recognize faculty who exemplify the best in …

Yang Chai (Photo courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for USC researchers close to identifying crucial gene for human cleft lip and palate

USC researchers close to identifying crucial gene for human cleft lip and palate

A group of researchers has found that three siblings born with cleft lip and palate share a common gene mutation associated with the birth defect. The gene intraflagellar transport 88 (IFT88) ensures …

Joanna Smeeton (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Broad Fellow Joanna Smeeton fishes around for stem cell-based treatments for arthritis

Broad Fellow Joanna Smeeton fishes around for stem cell-based treatments for arthritis

USC Stem Cell scientist Joanna Smeeton knows what arthritis can do to people: she’s witnessed the annual exodus out of her native country of Canada during the winter months. As this year’s …

Yang Chai (Photo courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for Research group awarded $12 million to establish tissue regeneration center

Research group awarded $12 million to establish tissue regeneration center

A research team called C-DOCTOR (Center for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Tissue and Organ Regeneration), initiated by the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, is one step closer to developing products that …

C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr. (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for CIRM awards $2.29 million to support stem cell-based therapy for knee osteoarthritis

CIRM awards $2.29 million to support stem cell-based therapy for knee osteoarthritis

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), California’s stem cell agency, has awarded the biopharmaceutical company Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc. (Nasdaq: CBMG) $2.29 million to support pre-clinical studies of AlloJoinTM, human fat-derived …

Megan McCain (Photo by Will Taylor); featured image for Bioengineering models for muscular dystrophy research

Bioengineering models for muscular dystrophy research

Studying muscular diseases proves extremely complicated. The current system of studying muscle cells and tissues using animal models is often inconclusive and cost-prohibitive. Looking to improve the status quo, Megan McCain—a Gabilan …

From left, Gage Crump, Jay R. Lieberman and Francesca Mariani (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Bone defects inspire perfect union between surgeon-scientist and stem cell researchers at USC

Bone defects inspire perfect union between surgeon-scientist and stem cell researchers at USC

As chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, Jay R. Lieberman regularly sees patients with bone defects too severe to heal. This unmet clinical …

Denis Evseenko (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Denis Evseenko receives $2.5 million from California Institute for Regenerative Medicine for osteoarthritis research

Denis Evseenko receives $2.5 million from California Institute for Regenerative Medicine for osteoarthritis research

The Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) is one of four institutions to receive a multi-million dollar grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) for …

Joseph T. Rodgers (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for USC Stem Cell scientist Joseph T. Rodgers receives grant from the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR)

USC Stem Cell scientist Joseph T. Rodgers receives grant from the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR)

Wisdom can increase with age, but healing power does not. USC Stem Cell scientist Joseph T. Rodgers is exploring the biology behind this fact, thanks to a grant from the American Federation …

Senta Georgia (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for What I’m Reading: Top pick from stem cell faculty member Senta Georgia

What I’m Reading: Top pick from stem cell faculty member Senta Georgia

Earlier this year, a team at the Karolinska Institute published a paper that profiled gene activity in single cells from human embryos created in the context of in vitro fertilization. Now this …