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Muscles and Skeleton News
Skeletal myotubes grown for three weeks on gelatin hydrogel (Image by Archana Bettadapur, Gio Suh, Evelyn Wang, Holly Huber, Alyssa Viscio and Megan McCain); featured image for USC researchers use gelatin instead of the gym to grow stronger muscles

USC researchers use gelatin instead of the gym to grow stronger muscles

USC researcher Megan L. McCain and colleagues have devised a way to develop bigger, stronger muscle fibers. But instead of popping up on the bicep of a bodybuilder, these muscles grow on …

From left, Broad Clinical Research Fellows Christopher Schlieve, Gene K. Lee and R. Kiran Alluri; featured image for USC Stem Cell names second cohort of Broad Clinical Research Fellows

USC Stem Cell names second cohort of Broad Clinical Research Fellows

The second cohort of Broad Clinical Research Fellows is making strides towards finding stem cell-based therapies for lymphedema in cancer patients, large bone fractures and short bowel syndrome.

Stem cells self-organize to form a hollow ball of cells. (Image by In Kyoung Mah and Francesca Mariani); featured image for A gene called Prkci helps organize organisms and their organs

A gene called Prkci helps organize organisms and their organs

A gene called Prkci can point cells in the right direction, according to a new study in Developmental Biology. In the study, USC Stem Cell researcher In Kyoung Mah from the laboratory …

Joseph T. Rodgers (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Joseph T. Rodgers and Hyungjin Eoh win Baxter Awards

Joseph T. Rodgers and Hyungjin Eoh win Baxter Awards

Directors of the Donald E. and Delia B. Baxter Foundation visited the USC Health Sciences Campus this May, to hear presentations from Keck School of Medicine of USC faculty and meet with …

Denis Evseenko (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Denis Evseenko is featured on Arthritis Now

Denis Evseenko is featured on Arthritis Now

Listen to an interview with USC Stem Cell scientist Denis Evseenko. It’s featured on Arthritis Now, a web series produced by the Arthritis National Research Foundation. The Evseenko Lab research program is …

New ways to regenerate bone emerge from the adult zebrafish face. (Image by Sandeep Paul and Seth Ruffins); featured image for USC Stem Cell researchers use zebrafish to understand the role of cartilage in bone repair

USC Stem Cell researchers use zebrafish to understand the role of cartilage in bone repair

Scientists have long believed that the processes required for embryonic development are recapitulated during the regeneration of damaged body parts, such as fractured bones. In a new study published in Development, USC …

Malcolm Snead (Photo courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for Amplifying cell signals for potentially lower cost stem cell interventions

Amplifying cell signals for potentially lower cost stem cell interventions

Editor’s Note: USC Stem Cell principal investigators Malcolm Snead and Yan Zhou were among the authors of “Supramolecular Nanofibers Enhance Growth Factor Signaling by Increasing Lipid Raft Mobility,” published on April 12, …

Rendition of developing vertebrate bones. In their study, Hojo and colleagues address the transcriptional action and evolution of Sp7/Osx, a key determinant of vertebrate-restricted bone forming osteoblasts. (Painting by Kristen Chen; courtesy of Developmental Cell 2016); featured image for USC Stem Cell study illuminates bone formation and vertebrate evolution

USC Stem Cell study illuminates bone formation and vertebrate evolution

With the emergence of bone, the diversity of life expanded to encompass the bone-forming vertebrates, a group of species ranging from the tiny frog Paedophryne amauensis to the mighty blue whale. Bone …

3-D printed Cas9 enzyme that snips a DNA sequence at a location identified by CRISPR. (Photo courtesy of the NIH 3D Print Exchange, National Institutes of Health); featured image for USC Stem Cell scientists enter the conversation about CRISPR

USC Stem Cell scientists enter the conversation about CRISPR

CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene-editing technique that enables scientists to disable, replace or modify sections of DNA. It allows for unprecedented precision and speed in the field of genome editing. It has been used to …

A three-day-old zebrafish head skeleton with newly differentiated cartilage cells (magenta) emerging from a pool of skeletal progenitor cells (green) (Image by Lindsey Barske); featured image for USC study shows how skeletal stem cells form the blueprint of the face

USC study shows how skeletal stem cells form the blueprint of the face

Timing is everything when it comes to the development of the vertebrate face. In a new study published in PLoS Genetics, USC Stem Cell researcher Lindsey Barske from the laboratory of Gage …

Joseph T. Rodgers performing an acrobatic feat (Photo courtesy of Joseph T. Rodgers); featured image for Outside the lab: Joseph T. Rodgers, stem cell scientist and amateur acrobat

Outside the lab: Joseph T. Rodgers, stem cell scientist and amateur acrobat

Inside the laboratory, Joseph T. Rodgers, assistant professor of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, uncovers the signals that instruct stem cells to build and repair tissue. Outside the laboratory, he builds …

Yang Chai (Photo courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for USC Stem Cell researcher Yang Chai receives $2.1 million from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

USC Stem Cell researcher Yang Chai receives $2.1 million from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Yang Chai, associate dean of Research at the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, has just received $2.1 million to continue research that could one day allow scientists to use stem cells …

Joseph T. Rodgers (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for New USC researcher Joseph T. Rodgers interprets stem cell signals

New USC researcher Joseph T. Rodgers interprets stem cell signals

For Joseph T. Rodgers, the path to becoming an assistant professor of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine at USC began in the woods of Ohio. “My dad is a chemical engineer, …

From left, Hsiang-Ying (Sherry) Lee, Sergei Doulatov, Leonardo Morsut, Alexander Pollen and Joan Font-Burgada (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for USC Stem Cell mini-symposium introduces next-generation researchers

USC Stem Cell mini-symposium introduces next-generation researchers

The next generation of scientists is turning to stem cells to advance our understanding of systems ranging from the blood to the brain, from the liver to the lungs. Six of these …

Qi-Long Ying (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Scientists Qi-Long Ying and Austin Smith win the 2016 McEwen Award for Innovation

Scientists Qi-Long Ying and Austin Smith win the 2016 McEwen Award for Innovation

Video by Henry Liu Researchers Qi-Long Ying from USC and Austin Smith from the University of Cambridge have won the 2016 McEwen Award for Innovation, the highest honor bestowed by the International …

The joint cells are the ones that are not outlined in black. (Image by Amjad Askary and Lindsey Mork/Crump Lab); featured image for Iroquois genes make cartilage cells act “oh so immature”

Iroquois genes make cartilage cells act “oh so immature”

Arthritis, the leading cause of disability in the U.S., involves the loss of a special type of cartilage cell lining the joints. In a study appearing on the cover of the latest …

The gene Prkci promotes the generation of differentiated cells (red). However if Prkci activity is reduced or absent, neural stem cells (green) are promoted. (Image by In Kyoung Mah); featured image for A Prkci gene keeps stem cells in check

A Prkci gene keeps stem cells in check

When it comes to stem cells, too much of a good thing isn’t wonderful: producing too many new stem cells may lead to cancer; producing too few inhibits the repair and maintenance …

Yang Chai (Photo courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for Ostrow awarded NIDCR grant to establish tissue regeneration center

Ostrow awarded NIDCR grant to establish tissue regeneration center

Tissue regeneration is about to become more fact than fiction, thanks to a $2 million grant that’s being divided among 10 research centers and universities, including the Ostrow School of Dentistry of …

From right, Qi-Long Ying, director of the Chang Stem Cell Engineering Facility; Daniel Chang; Andy McMahon, director of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC; and Cai Li Chang (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Chang Stem Cell Engineering Facility brings gene editing to USC and beyond

Chang Stem Cell Engineering Facility brings gene editing to USC and beyond

Once the stuff of science fiction, genetic engineering is now offered on a fee-for-service basis at USC. On September 19, USC Stem Cell faculty and staff welcomed their supporters, the Chang and …

From left, Lindsey Barske, Michael Patterson, Ang Li and Yuwei Li (Photos by Cristy Lytal); featured image for USC postdocs win Doerr Stem Cell Challenge Grants

USC postdocs win Doerr Stem Cell Challenge Grants

Just as there are times when two heads are better than one, there are times when two labs are better than one. Thanks to the new Doerr Stem Cell Challenge Grants, teams …