Dr. Crump uses zebrafish to understand how the cartilages and bones of our faces are patterned during development. His lab is discovering the local tissue-tissue interactions that control skeletal differentiation and morphogenesis in vivo, and also exploring novel ways of regenerating bone in adults.

Stories

Joanna Smeeton with her husband Jeremy Morris and their twins Edie and Isaac (Photo by Sandra Kielback); featured image for USC Stem Cell scientist Joanna Smeeton wins NIH Pathway to Independence Award

USC Stem Cell scientist Joanna Smeeton wins NIH Pathway to Independence Award

After her breakthrough discovery that zebrafish can be used to study arthritis, postdoctoral fellow Joanna Smeeton has received a prestigious National Institutes of Health (NIH) Pathway to Independence Award. Known as the …

Natasha Natarajan (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Trojan Natasha Natarajan looks to the future of stem cells

Trojan Natasha Natarajan looks to the future of stem cells

“Everyone in this audience right now, you all started out as a stem cell,” said Natasha Natarajan at the 2017 TEDxUSC conference. “And then your DNA came in, did all the work, …

Human development (Image courtesy of Evseenko Lab); featured image for Whittier Foundation backs new group of research projects

Whittier Foundation backs new group of research projects

The L.K. Whittier Foundation has been a critical source of funding for cancer research at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, supporting clinicians and …

From left, Gage Crump, Min Yu, Yang Chai, Joseph T. Rodgers and Denis Evseenko—all faculty in the Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine—led a panel discussion about “Preparing for the faculty job market.” (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for The faculty job search just got easier, thanks to two USC Stem Cell postdocs

The faculty job search just got easier, thanks to two USC Stem Cell postdocs

“I think we’re all here for the same reason,” said Michaela Patterson, a postdoc in the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC. “We’re considering …

A window into the mammalian middle ear (Image by Camilla Teng/Crump Lab); featured image for Researchers listen to zebrafish to understand human hearing loss

Researchers listen to zebrafish to understand human hearing loss

Can a fish with a malformed jaw tell us something about hearing loss in mice and humans? The answer is yes, according to a new publication in Scientific Reports.

Kidney organoid (Image by Tracy Tran/McMcMahon Lab); featured image for USC’s stem cell scientists secure the dollars to fight disease

USC’s stem cell scientists secure the dollars to fight disease

The price of progress is not only the energy and talent of stem cell scientists, but also the research dollars that support their discoveries. In recent months, faculty members have secured numerous …

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 …

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 …

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, Gage Crump, Jay R. Lieberman and Francesca Mariani (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Bone defects inspire perfect union between surgeon-scientist and stem cell researchers at USC

Bone defects inspire perfect union between surgeon-scientist and stem cell researchers at USC

As chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, Jay R. Lieberman regularly sees patients with bone defects too severe to heal. This unmet clinical …

Human skull with sutures; featured image for USC researchers awarded $3.3 million NIDCR grant to find more effective treatment for common birth defect

USC researchers awarded $3.3 million NIDCR grant to find more effective treatment for common birth defect

It might surprise you to learn that your cranium is not one continuous smooth bone encasing your brain. It’s actually comprised of eight bones, separated by fibrous joints, to give your skull …

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 …

Adult zebrafish jaw joint (Image by Amjad Askary); featured image for Arthritis originated in primordial fish

Arthritis originated in primordial fish

We all know someone affected by arthritis—as well as that old dog down the block. But according to a new study in eLife, arthritis is much more widespread in the animal kingdom …

Lindsey Barske (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for USC Stem Cell scientist Lindsey Barske wins NIH Pathway to Independence Award

USC Stem Cell scientist Lindsey Barske wins NIH Pathway to Independence Award

Years ago, Lindsey Barske pulled on a pair of tall rubber boots and began a journey that led from her college research experience on the muddy Alaskan tundra to her current postdoctoral …

Ophir Klein, professor at the University of California, San Francisco, delivered the keynote address. (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Next generation of stem cell scientists detail their research from head to toe

Next generation of stem cell scientists detail their research from head to toe

The Stem Cell and Developmental Biology Retreat was a total body experience — covering organ systems ranging from the brain to the skeleton, from the kidney to the heart. Held on May …

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 …

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 …

The joint cells are the ones that are not outlined in black. (Image by Amjad Askary and Lindsey Mork/Crump Lab); featured image for Iroquois genes make cartilage cells act “oh so immature”

Iroquois genes make cartilage cells act “oh so immature”

Arthritis, the leading cause of disability in the U.S., involves the loss of a special type of cartilage cell lining the joints. In a study appearing on the cover of the latest …

Gage Crump gives USC undergraduates a stem cell primer. (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for USC undergraduates get a dose of stem cells in two new MEDS courses

USC undergraduates get a dose of stem cells in two new MEDS courses

Science fiction author Margaret Atwood has frequently stated that biotechnology itself is neutral. It is how people use it that is good or bad. In the new spring course MEDS 380 Stem …

From left, Lindsey Barske, Michael Patterson, Ang Li and Yuwei Li (Photos by Cristy Lytal); featured image for USC postdocs win Doerr Stem Cell Challenge Grants

USC postdocs win Doerr Stem Cell Challenge Grants

Just as there are times when two heads are better than one, there are times when two labs are better than one. Thanks to the new Doerr Stem Cell Challenge Grants, teams …