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Joseph T. Rodgers (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for What I’m reading: A top pick from stem cell faculty member Joseph T. Rodgers

What I’m reading: A top pick from stem cell faculty member Joseph T. Rodgers

In a recent issue of Science, Jay Shendure, Alexander Schier and colleagues present an extraordinarily powerful new approach to trace the lineage of cells as they divide within an organism.

From left, Andy McMahon and Gage Crump (Photos by Phil Channing and the Crump Lab); featured image for What I’m reading: Top picks from stem cell faculty members Andy McMahon and Gage Crump

What I’m reading: Top picks from stem cell faculty members Andy McMahon and Gage Crump

Andy McMahon: Leigh Turner and Paul Knoepfler present a disturbing report in Cell Stem Cell on the growth of businesses marketing stem cell interventions in the US. Los Angeles is one “stem …

Valter Longo (Photo by John Skalicky); featured image for Fasting-like diet turns the immune system against cancer

Fasting-like diet turns the immune system against cancer

A fasting-like diet with chemotherapy strips away the guard that protects breast cancer and skin cancer cells from the immune system, according to a new USC-led study on mice. The study was …

From top: Dion Dickman (left), Megan McCain and Justin Ichida; Rong Lu (left) and Keyue Shen (Photos by Cristy Lytal); featured image for USC Stem Cell researchers receive the inaugural Broad Innovation Awards

USC Stem Cell researchers receive the inaugural Broad Innovation Awards

Two teams of scientists have won the inaugural Eli and Edythe Broad Innovation Awards in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at USC. This year’s competition provides $120,000 each to the teams …

From left, Broad Clinical Research Fellows Christopher Schlieve, Gene K. Lee and R. Kiran Alluri; featured image for USC Stem Cell names second cohort of Broad Clinical Research Fellows

USC Stem Cell names second cohort of Broad Clinical Research Fellows

The second cohort of Broad Clinical Research Fellows is making strides towards finding stem cell-based therapies for lymphedema in cancer patients, large bone fractures and short bowel syndrome.

Stem cells self-organize to form a hollow ball of cells. (Image by In Kyoung Mah and Francesca Mariani); featured image for A gene called Prkci helps organize organisms and their organs

A gene called Prkci helps organize organisms and their organs

A gene called Prkci can point cells in the right direction, according to a new study in Developmental Biology. In the study, USC Stem Cell researcher In Kyoung Mah from the laboratory …

Clockwise from top left: Study authors Casey Brewer, Elizabeth Chu, Rong Lu and Mike Chin (Photos by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Dose of transplanted blood-forming stem cells affects their behavior

Dose of transplanted blood-forming stem cells affects their behavior

Unlike aspirin, bone marrow doesn’t come with a neatly printed label with dosage instructions. However, a new study published in Cell Reports provides clues about how the dose of transplanted bone marrow …

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 …

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, …

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 …

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 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 …

Min Yu (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for USC Stem Cell researcher Min Yu receives the NIH’s New Innovator Award

USC Stem Cell researcher Min Yu receives the NIH’s New Innovator Award

As a winner of the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, USC Stem Cell principal investigator Min Yu will strive to develop individualized medicine targeting rare and deadly breast cancer stem cells. The …

Heinz-Josef Lenz (Photo courtesy of Heinz-Josef Lenz); featured image for Heinz-Josef Lenz is first recipient of endowed chair honoring J. Terrence Lanni

Heinz-Josef Lenz is first recipient of endowed chair honoring J. Terrence Lanni

The ceremony installing the J. Terrence Lanni Chair in Cancer Research was one of heartfelt tributes for two men, a doctor and a patient, who formed a tight bond over the years …

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 …

August 2015 cover of Cell; featured image for Researchers mimic viral infection in colon cancer stem cells

Researchers mimic viral infection in colon cancer stem cells

Researchers targeting colorectal cancer stem cells — the root cause of disease, resistance to treatment and relapse — have discovered a mechanism to mimic a virus and potentially trigger an immune response …

Clockwise from top left: Andre Luis de Castro Abreu, Victoria Forte, Kathy Schall and Rodrigo Martínez Monedero (Photos by Cristy Lytal); featured image for USC Stem Cell selects inaugural Broad Clinical Research Fellows

USC Stem Cell selects inaugural Broad Clinical Research Fellows

This year, the Broad Clinical Research Fellowships are enabling physician-investigators to explore stem cell-based approaches related to four very different medical conditions: breast cancer, kidney disease, deafness and short bowel syndrome. Each …

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Stem cell transplantation for children with rare form of leukemia improves outcomes

Researchers in the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles have shown greatly improved outcomes in using stem cell transplantation to treat patients with a …

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 …