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The Journal of Neuroscience cover from April 27, 2016; featured image for Key mutations may worsen hearing loss from the chemotherapy drug cisplatin

Key mutations may worsen hearing loss from the chemotherapy drug cisplatin

The chemotherapy drug cisplatin can kill cancer, but it can also kill the sensory cells of the inner ear — causing permanent hearing loss. This hearing loss is likely to be more severe …

Graduates from the master of science in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine program (Photo by Cort Brinkerhoff); featured image for USC launches second graduating class from stem cell master’s program

USC launches second graduating class from stem cell master’s program

USC’s May 14 Commencement Ceremony marked a beginning, not only for its two-year-old master’s program in the nascent field of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, but also for this program’s second …

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 …

Justin Ichida as an undergraduate at UCLA (Photo courtesy of Justin Ichida); featured image for Outside the lab: Justin Ichida, a stem cell scientist with the spirit of aloha and rock ’n roll

Outside the lab: Justin Ichida, a stem cell scientist with the spirit of aloha and rock ’n roll

As a third-generation Hawaiian, USC Stem Cell researcher Justin Ichida is equally comfortable with lu’aus and lead guitars as with laboratories. As an assistant professor of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine …

Justin Ichida (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for USC Stem Cell scientist Justin Ichida named New York Stem Cell Foundation – Robertson Investigator

USC Stem Cell scientist Justin Ichida named New York Stem Cell Foundation – Robertson Investigator

Some people see an award as remuneration for work well done. Upon being named a New York Stem Cell Foundation – Robertson Investigator, ALS researcher Justin Ichida sees his award as motivation …

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 …

Keynote speaker Brigid Hogan presents at the Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research inaugural symposium March 11. (Photo courtesy of HSC News); featured image for Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research holds inaugural symposium

Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research holds inaugural symposium

Physicians and leading scientists from across the country gathered recently to celebrate the inauguration of the Keck School of Medicine of USC’s Hastings Center for Pulmonary Research. More than 100 people attended …

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 …

Americans for Cures logo; featured image for Americans for Cures animations highlight stem cell clinical trials

Americans for Cures animations highlight stem cell clinical trials

How do clinical trials work? With the support of Proposition 71 and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), California stem cell scientists at USC and elsewhere are developing a new generation …

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 …

The Wellcome Trust, Gibbs Building (Photo by Oxyman/Creative Commons); featured image for Wellcome Trust’s Translation Awards support applied R&D projects

Wellcome Trust’s Translation Awards support applied R&D projects

The aim of the Wellcome Trust’s Translation Awards is to develop innovative and ground breaking new technologies in the biomedical area. Concept notes are due April 15; preliminary applications are due June …

Amgen (Photo courtesy of Amgen); featured image for Amgen enters into master research collaboration agreement with USC

Amgen enters into master research collaboration agreement with USC

Amgen recently entered into a three-year master research collaboration with USC. The agreement consists of a set of pre-defined terms and conditions in order to facilitate and streamline early discovery and translational …

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, …

Kimberley Babos (Photo courtesy of ISSCR); featured image for PhD student Kimberley Babos featured in ISSCR Member Spotlight

PhD student Kimberley Babos featured in ISSCR Member Spotlight

Kimberley Nicole Babos, a PhD candidate and Ichida Lab member at USC, recently gave an interview to the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) for a Member Spotlight.

Jon-Paul Pepper (Photo courtesy of Keck Medicine of USC); featured image for Meet Jon-Paul Pepper, USC Stem Cell principal investigator and director of the USC Facial Nerve Center

Meet Jon-Paul Pepper, USC Stem Cell principal investigator and director of the USC Facial Nerve Center

Meet Jon-Paul Pepper, director of the USC Facial Nerve Center and assistant professor of clinical otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at Keck Medicine of USC. As a surgeon and scientist, he is striving …

From left, Edward Crandall, chair of the Department of Medicine, presents a UKRO award to Andy McMahon, chair of the Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. (Photo courtesy of HSC Communications office); featured image for Four honored at UKRO benefit gala

Four honored at UKRO benefit gala

University Kidney Research Organization (UKRO) honored USC academic and scientific leaders at its sixth gala dinner March 18 at The Beverly Hilton, with 300 attendees. This group of vocal champions of kidney …

Embryonic day 15.5 mouse kidney next to a 15.5 week human fetal kidney with SIX2 (cyan) marking the nephron progenitors and cytokeratin (red) highlighting the collecting duct system. Nuclei are in blue. (Image by Lori O'Brien)

USC researchers discover a key difference between mouse and human kidney stem cells

The best laid plans of mice and men are a bit different — at least when it comes to kidney development. Compared to a mouse, a human has nearly 100 times more nephrons, …