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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 …

Developing zebrafish skeleton showing a gene called Sox9 (green) in cartilage-producing cells. (Image by Xinjun He/McMahon Lab); featured image for USC Stem Cell researchers reveal a genetic blueprint for cartilage

USC Stem Cell researchers reveal a genetic blueprint for cartilage

Cartilage does a lot more than determine the shapes of people’s ears and noses. It also enables people to breathe and to form healthy bones — two processes essential to life. In …

Amy Merrill-Brugger (Photo courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for Amy Merrill-Brugger receives $2 million NIH grant for craniofacial birth defect research

Amy Merrill-Brugger receives $2 million NIH grant for craniofacial birth defect research

USC Stem Cell principal investigator Amy Merrill-Brugger received the National Institute of Health Research Project Grant (R01) for her scientific investigation on inherited human conditions that cause facial bones to develop abnormally.

Fresh veggies, anyone? (Photo by Bob Nichols); featured image for Diet that mimics fasting appears to slow aging

Diet that mimics fasting appears to slow aging

Want to lose abdominal fat, get smarter and live longer? New research led by USC Stem Cell principal investigator Valter Longo shows that periodically adopting a diet that mimics the effects of …

Tooth enamel damage (Image courtesy of the NIH); featured image for Researchers discover key player in enamel regeneration

Researchers discover key player in enamel regeneration

USC researchers are closer than ever to being able to regrow enamel, thanks in part to a recent scientific discovery published in the latest issue of the journal Biomaterials. In the article, …

Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC (Photo by Chris Shinn); featured image for Take a tour of USC’s stem cell research center

Take a tour of USC’s stem cell research center

Video by Alric Devotta Director Andy McMahon leads a tour of the Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC.

Yang Chai (Photo courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for USC researchers move one step closer to natural tooth restorations

USC researchers move one step closer to natural tooth restorations

A rodent’s incisors never stop growing. It’s one of the reasons mice gnaw through cupboards, hamsters chomp mindlessly on metal cage bars and rats will chew through, well, just about anything. They …

Jay R. Lieberman is the new president of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS).; featured image for Lieberman takes office as 25th president of national association

Lieberman takes office as 25th president of national association

Jay R. Lieberman, a principal investigator with USC Stem Cell, is the new president of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS). He is professor and chair of the Department …

Quorum sensing in hair population regeneration (Image courtesy of Cheng-Ming Chuong); featured image for USC researcher plucks hair to grow hair

USC researcher plucks hair to grow hair

If there’s a cure for male pattern baldness, it might hurt a little. A team led by USC Stem Cell Principal Investigator Cheng-Ming Chuong has demonstrated that by plucking 200 hairs in …

Yang Chai (Photo courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for Discovery could lead to biological treatment for common birth defect

Discovery could lead to biological treatment for common birth defect

Throughout every human and animal’s body, stem cell populations are responsible for the growth, regeneration and repair of tissues. While the power of some types of stem cells is already being used …

Clockwise from upper left: Hao Yuan Kueh, Florian Merkle, Robert A.J. Signer, members of the audience, Pedro Batista and Joseph T. Rodgers (Photos by Cristy Lytal); featured image for USC mini-symposium showcases the next generation of top stem cell scientists

USC mini-symposium showcases the next generation of top stem cell scientists

Obesity, narcolepsy, leukemia and muscle injuries have at least one thing in common: they are engaging the next generation of top stem cell scientists. Five of these scientists presented their research at …

USC PhD student Louise Menendez examines the prototype of a potential device to treat patients with liver disease. (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for “Million-dollar ideas” seminar

“Million-dollar ideas” seminar

At a special seminar on February 24, USC Stem Cell Principal Investigators discussed their “million-dollar ideas” for creating new tools and technologies to usher in the era of regenerative medicine. They shared …