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The $10 million donation from the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation will support the USC stem cell research center’s core facilities and training programs, enable recruitment and attract research funding. (Photo by Sam Comen); featured image for $10 million gift from Broad Foundation advances USC stem cell research on aging-associated disease

$10 million gift from Broad Foundation advances USC stem cell research on aging-associated disease

USC’s groundbreaking stem cell research and training programs have received a major boost thanks to a $10 million gift from the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. The donation is part of the …

Janet Oldak; featured image for Moradian-Oldak receives Distinguished Scientist Award

Moradian-Oldak receives Distinguished Scientist Award

Professor Janet Moradian-Oldak received a 2019 Basic Research in Biological Mineralization Award at the International Association for Dental Research’s (IADR) General Session and Exhibition in mid-June. The award — one of 17 …

Junior faculty (Photo by Sergio Bianco); featured image for USC Stem Cell junior faculty balance babies with biomedical research

USC Stem Cell junior faculty balance babies with biomedical research

Growing stem cells isn’t just something junior faculty do in the lab. Eight of the junior faculty in the Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine recently welcomed new babies into …

Embryonic stem cells that have differentiated into neurons (Image by In Kyoung Mah/Mariani Lab); featured image for From restoring sight to reversing brain damage, USC stem cell researchers are making life-changing discoveries

From restoring sight to reversing brain damage, USC stem cell researchers are making life-changing discoveries

If anyone has a clear vision of the power of stem cell cures, it’s Anna Kuehl. She suffered a retina-wrecking disease that cost her much of her sight before USC physicians surgically …

Yang Chai (Photo by Chris Shinn); featured image for Yang Chai bridges the gap from the lab bench to the dental chair

Yang Chai bridges the gap from the lab bench to the dental chair

As a young oral surgeon in China, Yang Chai often operated on babies born with cleft lips or palates. “You talk to the parents, and they were very emotional and trying find …

Eye treated for macular degeneration; featured image for RSVP for 6/26 USC Public Symposium on a stem cell-based approach to treating age-related blindness

RSVP for 6/26 USC Public Symposium on a stem cell-based approach to treating age-related blindness

A Public Symposium co-sponsored by USC Stem Cell and the Choi Family @ISSCCR 2019 RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bringing-stem-cells-to-patients-treating-age-related-blindness-tickets-62892259441#tickets Program *Spanish translation available. 6:30 p.m. Registration and free food 7–8 p.m. Andrew P. McMahon, …

Fluorescent image of intestinal stem and progenitor cells. Cells like these can grow into engineered intestinal tissue in the laboratory. Eventually, Dr. Grikscheit hopes engineered intestine can help babies born with severe gastrointestinal challenges.; featured image for Tissue engineering: The big picture on growing small intestines

Tissue engineering: The big picture on growing small intestines

Babies born prematurely often face intense medical challenges, including intestines that are underdeveloped or diseased. While an intestine transplant can benefit some patients, many babies are simply too small to endure this …

Pat Levitt (Photo courtesy of CHLA); featured image for Critical windows when experience shapes the brain

Critical windows when experience shapes the brain

Story courtesy of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Pat Levitt, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Simms/Mann Chair in Developmental Neurogenetics, received a $3.7M grant from the National Institute …

From left, Muniza Junaid and Anson Tam (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Countdown to Commencement: Anson Tam brings the Hawaii perspective to surgery, research and swimming

Countdown to Commencement: Anson Tam brings the Hawaii perspective to surgery, research and swimming

Anson Tam is an aspiring doctor from Honolulu, who brings a hardworking, sun loving, laid back Hawaiian attitude to swimming, research and surgery. Tam was initially inspired to become a doctor by …

How the roots of teeth develop has long been a mystery. Professor Yang Chai aims to change that — and eventually regrow the roots of teeth.; featured image for Researchers seek the root of tooth development

Researchers seek the root of tooth development

The lower two-thirds of a tooth are known as the root. Normally covered in bone, they anchor the tooth into the jaw. But the exact mechanisms and pathways that create the root …

From right, USC Stem Cell scientists Francesca Mariani and Stephanie T. Kuwahara (Photo by Sergio Bianco); featured image for Messenger cells bring good news for bone healing

Messenger cells bring good news for bone healing

How do bones heal, and how could they heal better? The answer to these questions may lie in a newly discovered population of “messenger” cells, according to a recent USC Stem Cell …

Janet Moradian-Oldak (Photo by Vern Evans); featured image for Regrowing enamel? USC Dental Professor Janet Moradian-Oldak is on the case

Regrowing enamel? USC Dental Professor Janet Moradian-Oldak is on the case

Dental enamel is tricky stuff. Even though it’s the body’s hardest material, if it wears away from cavities, acidic food or drinks or overbrushing, it doesn’t regenerate.  All that could change in …

Killifish; featured image for This tiny fish could unlock mysteries about growing old

This tiny fish could unlock mysteries about growing old

Back in its native habitat, the African turquoise killifish wiggles from its egg, eats, spawns and dies — all within a few months. Life goes by fast when your home is a …

(Illustration by Chris Gash); featured image for Eat less, live longer? The science of fasting and longevity

Eat less, live longer? The science of fasting and longevity

When it comes to what, when and how we eat, fasting — voluntarily abstaining from food for varying periods of time — is having a moment. It was the most popular diet …

Pat Levitt (Photo courtesy of CHLA); featured image for Neural development of 2-month-old infants shows effect of maternal stress

Neural development of 2-month-old infants shows effect of maternal stress

Story courtesy of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles A study of 70 mothers and their infants suggests that the impact of maternal stress on neurodevelopment is detectable by electroencephalography (EEG) at 2 months …

Carol L. Folt will become the 12th president of the University of Southern California. (USC Photo/Gus Ruelas); featured image for Carol L. Folt to become USC’s 12th president

Carol L. Folt to become USC’s 12th president

Noted life scientist, teacher and academic leader Carol L. Folt will become the University of Southern California’s 12th president, the USC Board of Trustees announced today. Formerly chancellor of the University of North …

Bérénice Benayoun (Photo courtesy of the USC Davis School of Gerontology); featured image for Bérénice Benayoun honored for genetics research

Bérénice Benayoun honored for genetics research

The Genetics Society of America (GSA) and the Gruber Foundation have awarded Assistant Professor Bérénice Benayoun the 2019 Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award for her research in genetics. The award, intended to …

David Cobrinik; featured image for What makes a cell turn cancerous?

What makes a cell turn cancerous?

Story courtesy of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Retinoblastoma is a tumor of the retina that generally affects children under 5 years of age and accounts for approximately 4% of childhood cancers. If …

Gage Crump (Photo courtesy of Gage Crump); featured image for USC Stem Cell scientist Gage Crump gives a bare bones explanation of eLife skeletal development study

USC Stem Cell scientist Gage Crump gives a bare bones explanation of eLife skeletal development study

How do our skeletons form during embryonic development? To approach this question, PhD student Dion Giovannone, research scientist Sandeep Paul and the USC Stem Cell laboratory of Gage Crump looked to our …

Eli and Edythe Broad (Photo by Ben Gibbs); featured image for Eli and Edythe Broad to receive honorary degrees at USC commencement ceremony

Eli and Edythe Broad to receive honorary degrees at USC commencement ceremony

USC will recognize philanthropists Edythe and Eli Broad and five other honorary degree candidates for their leadership in government, science, philanthropy, humanitarianism and the arts at the university’s 136th commencement ceremony on …