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Justin Ichida‘s lab is doing groundbreaking work in the field of stem cell research. (Photo/Damon Casarez); featured image for His race against ALS: Justin Ichida

His race against ALS: Justin Ichida

Story courtesy of Trojan Family Magazine Justin Ichida regularly gets emails from strangers asking the same urgent question: “Will your research on ALS be done in time to save my life?” The …

Ebony Flowers (Photo by Sergio Bianco); featured image for Ebony Flowers named Choi Family Postdoctoral Fellow at USC Stem Cell

Ebony Flowers named Choi Family Postdoctoral Fellow at USC Stem Cell

For Ebony Flowers, a postdoctoral fellow in the USC Stem Cell laboratory of Min Yu, doing science is ultimately about helping patients. “The fact that Min Yu’s Lab is looking at actual …

USC scientists have found a solution to untangle twisty DNA, removing kinks so the molecules can be used to reprogram cells to advance regenerative medicine to treat disease. (Illustration/iStock); featured image for USC scientists surmount big obstacle to reprogram cells

USC scientists surmount big obstacle to reprogram cells

USC scientists have surmounted a big roadblock in regenerative medicine that has so far constrained the ability to use repurposed cells to treat diseases. The researchers figured out how to reprogram cells …

USC Stem Cell funior department faculty in 2019 (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 …

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 …

AcuraStem team members participated in the ALS Association Golden West Chapter‘s Walk to Defeat ALS at Exposition Park. (Photo by Roxan Olivas, AcuraStem); featured image for Innovators of USC: Justin Ichida stays at the forefront of ALS research

Innovators of USC: Justin Ichida stays at the forefront of ALS research

Justin Ichida keeps his research patient-based. That’s why Ichida, Richard N. Merkin, M.D., Assistant Professor of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and his …

From left, Chase Bowen and Ciara Mimms (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Countdown to Commencement: Ciara Mimms directs aircraft and redirects cells

Countdown to Commencement: Ciara Mimms directs aircraft and redirects cells

“November-Two-Five, you’re clear for takeoff. Clear for takeoff, November-Two-Five. Good day!” From directing jets in the sky in the United States Air Force Reserve to delving into stem cell biology, Ciara Mimms, …

Kim Babos; featured image for CIRM Stem Cell Awareness Day: Science Career Videos

CIRM Stem Cell Awareness Day: Science Career Videos

In honor of CIRM’s Stem Cell Awareness Day, USC Stem Cell invites you to explore careers in science. Meet progressive master’s student Carina Seah, PhD student Kimberley Babos, postdoc Jorge Contreras and clinical fellow Abigail Zamora.

D'Juan Farmer (Photo by Sergio Bianco)

USC Stem Cell scientist D’Juan Famer named Howard Hughes Medical Institute Hanna H. Gray Fellow

A little over a year after arriving at USC, D’Juan Farmer has been awarded one of the most prestigious fellowships available to postdoctoral fellows. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Hanna H. …

Justin Ichida (Photo by Ben Gibbs); featured image for AcuraStem, USC and Icagen to collaborate on fast track SBIR grant for the development of a novel small molecule therapy to treat ALS

AcuraStem, USC and Icagen to collaborate on fast track SBIR grant for the development of a novel small molecule therapy to treat ALS

AcuraStem, an early stage biotech company located in Los Angeles, and Justin Ichida at USC have been awarded a $3.7 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) FastTrack grant by the National Institute …

A healthy T cell (Image courtesy of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases); featured image for When it comes to balancing the immune system, some blood stem cells are better than others

When it comes to balancing the immune system, some blood stem cells are better than others

In your body, blood stem cells produce approximately 10 billion new white blood cells, which are also known as immune cells, each and every day. Even more remarkably, if some of these …

Justin Ichida (Photo by Ben Gibbs); featured image for USC Stem Cell scientist Justin Ichida named inaugural Richard N. Merkin Scholar

USC Stem Cell scientist Justin Ichida named inaugural Richard N. Merkin Scholar

In USC’s Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, half of the faculty members are assistant professors, poised at the threshold of their careers in biomedical research. One of these promising …

Justin Ichida (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for USC Stem Cell researcher Justin Ichida honored as a champion in the fight against ALS

USC Stem Cell researcher Justin Ichida honored as a champion in the fight against ALS

The ALS Association Golden West Chapter will recognize USC Stem Cell researcher Justin Ichida with the 2017 Essey Commitment to a Cure Award for his outstanding achievements in the fight against ALS. …

Richard Lopez (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for High school student Richard Lopez gets an early start with stem cell science

High school student Richard Lopez gets an early start with stem cell science

Even though Richard Lopez is still in high school, he can already tell you a thing or two about the ureteric bud, the metanephric mesenchyme and the developing kidney. More impressively, he …

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 …

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 …

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 …

From left, Eun Ji Chung from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, and Larissa Rodriguez and Rong Zhang from the Keck School of Medicine of USC (Photos courtesy of USC); featured image for Broad Innovation Award winners aim to reduce bathroom breaks with stem cells

Broad Innovation Award winners aim to reduce bathroom breaks with stem cells

Having a baby can change a woman’s life in one way that she is often too embarrassed to mention. Childbirth can cause urinary incontinence, which affects up to 13 million people and …

The Stem Cell Day of Discovery event held at the USC Health Sciences Campus in Los Angeles, CA. February 4th, 2017. The event encourages students to learn more about STEM opportunities, including stem cell study and biotech, and helps demystify the fields and encourage student engagement. Photo by David Sprague; featured image for Five-hundred middle and high school students realized their “pluripotential” at the USC Stem Cell Day of Discovery

Five-hundred middle and high school students realized their “pluripotential” at the USC Stem Cell Day of Discovery

You can be anything you want—just like a stem cell. This was a key lesson for the 500 middle and high school students who attended the USC Stem Cell Day of Discovery …

Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC (Photo by Chris Shinn); featured image for USC announces Feb. 4 Stem Cell Day of Discovery event

USC announces Feb. 4 Stem Cell Day of Discovery event

On Saturday, February 4, from 8 a.m.–2 p.m., USC will hold a half-day educational event to encourage the residents of East Los Angeles (Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Lincoln Heights and neighboring communities …