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Jian Xu (Photo by John Skalicky); featured image for Ostrow faculty member Jian Xu does craniofacial biology with heart

Ostrow faculty member Jian Xu does craniofacial biology with heart

The researcher was recently promoted to the rank of Associate Professor of Dentistry with tenure. TO SOME, IT MIGHT SEEM UNUSUAL that Jian Xu, whose PhD research focused on cardiac hypertrophy and …

LA smog (Image courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for Jian Xu investigates environmental pollution’s contribution to birth defects

Jian Xu investigates environmental pollution’s contribution to birth defects

Jian Xu hopes to better understand the mechanisms behind environmental toxins increasing the occurrence of birth defects in order to develop new treatments or even prevent craniofacial birth defects. Nearly 120,000 babies …

Heart (Image courtesy of iStock); featured image for Hunting for heart cells that can grow back after an injury

Hunting for heart cells that can grow back after an injury

Hearts are tough organs. Over the course of a lifetime, they beat ever second of every day, keeping the entire body nourished with life-giving blood. But, even with all that stamina, heart …

Jian Xu (Photo courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for Researcher Jian Xu earns accolades for cell fate studies

Researcher Jian Xu earns accolades for cell fate studies

Basic science can often be far from basic—especially for Jian Xu, who believes cells are kind of like people. “In simple terms, we look at how cells determine their own fate,” said …

Motor neurons derived from an ALS patient (Image courtesy of the Ichida Lab); featured image for USC announces winners of the Audrey E. Streedain Regenerative Medicine Initiative Awards

USC announces winners of the Audrey E. Streedain Regenerative Medicine Initiative Awards

Two collaborative teams within USC Stem Cell are developing new approaches that could eventually help patients with heart disease, frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The teams are the winners of …

Human skull with sutures; featured image for USC, UCLA and UCSF put their heads together to find stem cell-based cures for craniofacial defects

USC, UCLA and UCSF put their heads together to find stem cell-based cures for craniofacial defects

One in every 2,000 babies is born with a skull that can’t grow normally. Various sections of these babies’ skulls are fused together at joints called sutures, constricting the developing brain and …