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Justin Ichida

Justin Ichida, PhDJohn Douglas French Alzheimer’s Foundation Associate Professor of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine; New York Stem Cell Foundation-Robertson Investigator


Dr. Ichida’s research focuses on how genetic and environmental factors contribute to human neurodegenerative disease. His laboratory uses cellular reprogramming and stem cell technology to build patient-specific in vitro models of neurodegenerative disease, enabling the screening of drug-like compounds in search of potential therapeutics.

Stories

AcuraStem team members participated in the ALS Association Golden West Chapter‘s Walk to Defeat ALS at Exposition Park. (Photo by Roxan Olivas, AcuraStem)

Innovators of USC: Justin Ichida stays at the forefront of ALS research

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Justin Ichida keeps his research patient-based. That’s why Ichida, Richard N. Merkin, M.D., Assistant Professor of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and his …

Kim Babos

CIRM Stem Cell Awareness Day: Science Career Videos

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In honor of CIRM’s Stem Cell Awareness Day, USC Stem Cell invites you to explore careers in science. Meet progressive master’s student Carina Seah, PhD student Kimberley Babos, postdoc Jorge Contreras and clinical fellow Abigail Zamora.

Note to self (Photo by Sergio Bianco)

At the retreat for USC’s stem cell department, the students become the masters

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Students and trainees took center stage at the annual retreat for USC’s Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. They presented their latest research to the 180 stem cell scientists who …

Justin Ichida (Photo by Chris Shinn)

The USC scientist who aims to beat ALS, and the patients cheering him on

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Justin Ichida regularly gets emails from strangers asking an urgent question: Will your research on ALS be done in time to save my life? “I don’t really know them, but they tell …

Justin Ichida (Photo by Ben Gibbs)

AcuraStem, USC and Icagen to collaborate on fast track SBIR grant for the development of a novel small molecule therapy to treat ALS

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AcuraStem, an early stage biotech company located in Los Angeles, and Justin Ichida at USC have been awarded a $3.7 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) FastTrack grant by the National Institute …

USC researchers have found 150 proteins that contribute to mental disorders. (Illustration/Evgeny Gromov, iStock)

USC scientists discover schizophrenia gene roles in brain development

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A USC research team identified 150 proteins affecting cell activity and brain development that contribute to mental disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar condition and depression. It’s the first time these molecules, which are …

Justin Ichida (Photo by Ben Gibbs)

USC Stem Cell scientist Justin Ichida named inaugural Richard N. Merkin Scholar

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In USC’s Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, half of the faculty members are assistant professors, poised at the threshold of their careers in biomedical research. One of these promising …

Motor nerve cells (Image courtesy of the Ichida Lab)

The toxic relationship between ALS and frontotemporal dementia

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ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are two neurodegenerative diseases with a toxic relationship, according to a new USC Stem Cell study published in Nature Medicine.

From left, Gio Suh and Lauren Ekman (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

Countdown to Commencement: Gio Suh builds muscles without exercising

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“I’ve always wanted to be in a textbook and impact the world,” said Gio Suh, who is graduating in December 2017 from the master of science program in stem cell biology and …

Larry Goldstein, the director of the stem cell program at the University of California, San Diego, and keynote speaker at the retreat for USC’s Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

Scientists get into detail at the retreat for USC’s stem cell department

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“The process of disease is about detail,” said Larry Goldstein, the director of the stem cell program at the University of California, San Diego, and keynote speaker at the retreat for USC’s …

Injury-related damage in a mouse chronic kidney disease model (Image by Jing Liu/McMahon Lab)

The Broad Foundation awards $1 million to early-stage stem cell research projects

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The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation has awarded two $125,000 grants to early-stage scientific investigations at USC’s stem cell research center. The projects are among eight winners of the $1 million Fund …

Justin Ichida (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

USC Stem Cell researcher Justin Ichida honored as a champion in the fight against ALS

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The ALS Association Golden West Chapter will recognize USC Stem Cell researcher Justin Ichida with the 2017 Essey Commitment to a Cure Award for his outstanding achievements in the fight against ALS. …

Justin Ichida (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

Verge Genomics announces a multi-institution collaboration with Columbia University, MGH, USC and the University of Michigan to advance ALS research

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Verge Genomics, a drug discovery company utilizing genomic data for neuroscience therapeutics, announced today that it is has established a multi-institution industry-academic collaboration with four top universities focused on accelerating the translation …

Pluripotency (Painting by Amanda Kwieraga)

USC alumna Amanda Kwieraga makes paintings from acrylic, wood and stem cell science

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“Anyone who views something under a microscope or through a telescope will tell you that science is art, and that art is the perfect way to convey science,” said Amanda Kwieraga, an …

Neuronal Forest (Painting by Amanda Kwieraga)

USC Stem Cell artist Amanda Kwieraga plants a Neuronal Forest

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“Anyone who views something under a microscope or through a telescope will tell you that science is art, and that art is the perfect way to convey science,” said Amanda Kwieraga, an …

Kim Staats (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

USC researcher Kim Staats looks for the pattern in sporadic cases of ALS

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USC postdoctoral researcher Kim Staats found her calling when a childhood neighbor was diagnosed with ALS, a paralyzing and fatal neurodegenerative disease. At the time, Staats was pursuing bachelor’s and master’s degrees …

Kidney organoid (Image by Tracy Tran/McMcMahon Lab)

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

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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 …

Microglia, or immune cells in the brain, could play a role in Alzheimer’s disease. (Image by Valerie Hennes/Ichida Lab)

USC Stem Cell scientist Justin Ichida explores Alzheimer’s disease, with support from the John Douglas French Alzheimer’s Foundation

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About 15 percent of the cells in our brains are scavengers—roving immune cells known as microglia that remove infectious agents, damaged neurons and plaques. USC Stem Cell scientist Justin Ichida is taking …

From right, Nicole Koutsodendris and Ila Dwivedi (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

Countdown to Commencement: Nicole Koutsodendris aims to succeed where neurological medications fail

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“Anti-psychotic medications can numb you to the point where you no longer have your own thoughts,” said Nicole Koutsodendris, who is graduating from the master’s program in stem cell biology and regenerative …

Immunohistochemical staining of sensory hair cell-like cells. The cells were induced from fibroblasts by the over-expression of selected transcription factors. (Image courtesy of Suhasni Gopalakrishnan, Louise Menendez, Juan Llamas, Justin Ichida and Neil Segil)

Current research on inner ear hair cell regeneration

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Article courtesy of the February 2017 issue of KeckZine Otolaryngology Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common sensory disability in humans and is most often caused by the death of so-called …

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Justin Ichida, PhD