Overview

USC Stem Cell scientists are advancing our understanding of how the body develops, maintains and repairs the muscles, cartilage and skeleton. They are also using stem cells to find new regenerative therapies for conditions ranging from difficult-to-heal bone fractures to muscle injury, from birth defects to arthritis.

Statistics

• Arthritis and other rheumatoid conditions are the leading cause of disability in the US.
• Approximately 6.3 million bone fractures occur each year in the US.
• The most common fracture prior to age 75 is a wrist fracture. In those over age 75, hip fractures become the most common broken bone and can lead to permanent disability.
• Between 10% and 55% of muscle injuries occur during sports activities.
• Cleft lip and cleft palate are among the most common birth defects, affecting approximately one or two in a thousand babies.