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Microglia, or immune cells in the brain, could play a role in Alzheimer’s disease. (Image by Valerie Hennes/Ichida Lab); featured image for USC Stem Cell scientist Justin Ichida explores Alzheimer’s disease, with support from the John Douglas French Alzheimer’s Foundation

USC Stem Cell scientist Justin Ichida explores Alzheimer’s disease, with support from the John Douglas French Alzheimer’s Foundation

About 15 percent of the cells in our brains are scavengers—roving immune cells known as microglia that remove infectious agents, damaged neurons and plaques. USC Stem Cell scientist Justin Ichida is taking …

Graduates of the master of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine program, with faculty director Henry Sucov (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for “Science does not end with discovery,” graduates told

“Science does not end with discovery,” graduates told

An excited crowd of family and friends gathered at the Galen Center on the University Park Campus May 13 to celebrate the commencement of nearly 400 PhD and master’s degree candidates from …

From left, Chukuemeka Ogudu and Kory Hamane (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Countdown to Commencement: Future Doctor Chukuemeka Ogudu—from Nigeria to America

Countdown to Commencement: Future Doctor Chukuemeka Ogudu—from Nigeria to America

How far would you go to provide a better life for your family or your country? Chukuemeka Ogudu or, as his friends know him, Emeka, moved to America to become a doctor. …

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.

From right, Nicole Koutsodendris and Ila Dwivedi (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Countdown to Commencement: Nicole Koutsodendris aims to succeed where neurological medications fail

Countdown to Commencement: Nicole Koutsodendris aims to succeed where neurological medications fail

“Anti-psychotic medications can numb you to the point where you no longer have your own thoughts,” said Nicole Koutsodendris, who is graduating from the master’s program in stem cell biology and regenerative …

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 …

Megan McCain (Photo by Will Taylor); featured image for Megan McCain appointed to Chonette Early Career Chair

Megan McCain appointed to Chonette Early Career Chair

Megan McCain, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, and stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, has been honored with the Chonette Early Career Chair at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. As an …

Zea Borok (Photo by Ricardo Carrasco III); featured image for $6.9 million NIH award will promote lung cell regeneration research

$6.9 million NIH award will promote lung cell regeneration research

Zea Borok, professor of medicine, chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine and director of the Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research at the Keck School of Medicine 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 …

Valter Longo (Photo by John Skalicky); featured image for Drugs widely used in cancer therapy increase toxicity of chemotherapy in mice

Drugs widely used in cancer therapy increase toxicity of chemotherapy in mice

A short-term fast appears to counteract increases in blood sugar caused by common cancer drugs and protect healthy cells in mice from becoming too vulnerable to chemotherapy, according to new research by …

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 …

From left, ChangHui Pak, Mayssa H. Mokalled, Naomi Habib, Frank Soldner and Alex J. Hughes (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Next-generation stem cell scientists evidence strong nerves at USC mini-symposium

Next-generation stem cell scientists evidence strong nerves at USC mini-symposium

Five next-generation scientists got everyone’s neurons firing at the Junior Faculty Candidate Mini-symposium, hosted by USC’s Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine on March 7.

From left, Andy McMahon and Ken Hallows (Photos by Phil Channing and courtesy of Ken Hallows); featured image for World Kidney Day: USC’s Andy McMahon and Ken Hallows discuss kidney health and research

World Kidney Day: USC’s Andy McMahon and Ken Hallows discuss kidney health and research

One in 10 people is affected by chronic kidney disease worldwide. On March 9, 2017, World Kidney Day shines a spotlight on the importance of kidneys and ways to reduce the impact …

Senta Georgia (Photo courtesy of Children's Hospital Los Angeles)

Beta booster: Senta Georgia works at the front lines in the fight against diabetes

Part of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles’ “We Went First” feature for 2017 Women’s Day Credit a school field trip with inspiring Senta Georgia to change the world. When Georgia was a young …

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 …

From left: USC relay runners Valeria Mancino, Nils Lindstrom, Qing Liu, Jill McMahon, Kenneth Hallows, Andy McMahon, Daniel Rivera, Nuria Pastor-Soler, Veronica Haro-Acosta and Tracy Tran (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Support the UKRO Los Angeles Marathon Charity Relay Team

Support the UKRO Los Angeles Marathon Charity Relay Team

One out of every two adults will develop chronic kidney disease during their lifetimes. To help these patients, USC scientists and clinicians are putting their feet to the task as part of …

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 …