Yang Chai

Yang Chai, DDS, PhDDean and Associate Dean of Research, Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC; Director, Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology; G. Donald and Marian James Montgomery Professor of Dentistry; George and MaryLou Boone Chair in Craniofacial Molecular Biology; University Professor, Dentistry, Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, and Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery


Dr. Chai’s laboratory is interested in early craniofacial development and malformations, including the molecular regulation of cranial neural crest cells. His laboratory has developed genetically engineered mouse models, and has made important discoveries about the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) niche in the craniofacial region and about utilizing MSCs with 3D printed scaffolds for tissue regeneration.

Stories

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

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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 …

Yang Chai (Photo courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for USC Stem Cell researcher Yang Chai receives $2.1 million from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

USC Stem Cell researcher Yang Chai receives $2.1 million from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

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Yang Chai, associate dean of Research at the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, has just received $2.1 million to continue research that could one day allow scientists to use stem cells …

Yang Chai (Photo courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for Ostrow awarded NIDCR grant to establish tissue regeneration center

Ostrow awarded NIDCR grant to establish tissue regeneration center

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Tissue regeneration is about to become more fact than fiction, thanks to a $2 million grant that’s being divided among 10 research centers and universities, including the Ostrow School of Dentistry of …

USC graduate student Du Jiang (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Tri-institutional Stem Cell Retreat brings together Broad centers from USC, UCLA and UCSF

Tri-institutional Stem Cell Retreat brings together Broad centers from USC, UCLA and UCSF

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Working alone, a scientist or university can only make so much progress in finding answers to basic questions or new treatments for diseases ranging from HIV to cancer to diabetes. That’s why …

Yang Chai (Photo courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for USC researchers move one step closer to natural tooth restorations

USC researchers move one step closer to natural tooth restorations

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A rodent’s incisors never stop growing. It’s one of the reasons mice gnaw through cupboards, hamsters chomp mindlessly on metal cage bars and rats will chew through, well, just about anything. They …

Yang Chai (Photo courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for Discovery could lead to biological treatment for common birth defect

Discovery could lead to biological treatment for common birth defect

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Throughout every human and animal’s body, stem cell populations are responsible for the growth, regeneration and repair of tissues. While the power of some types of stem cells is already being used …

Fred H. Gage delivered a brainy keynote address. (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for USC Stem Cell Symposium creates scientific synergy

USC Stem Cell Symposium creates scientific synergy

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Provost Michael Quick convened the inaugural USC Stem Cell Symposium with a straightforward truth about the future of regenerative medicine: “it will take a dedicated community of scholars across the disciplines to …

“Tin Woman” Michaela Patterson, a postdoctoral scholar in the lab of Henry Sucov, studies heart regeneration — with no help from the Wizard of Oz. (Photo by Cristy Lytal); featured image for Halloween retreat showcases USC’s “scary smart” stem cell researchers

Halloween retreat showcases USC’s “scary smart” stem cell researchers

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It was no tricks and all treats at the seventh annual retreat for the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, held at the university’s …

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

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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 …

The inferior alveolar nerve provides a niche for stem cells that maintain incisor homeostasis. When the nerve is severed, homeostasis is disrupted and within one month the affected incisor becomes chalky and breaks. (Photos/courtesy of Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology); featured image for Dental study provides wealth of stem cell details

Dental study provides wealth of stem cell details

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An Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC study has uncovered new details on how bundles of nerves and arteries interact with stem cells and also showcases revolutionary techniques for following the cells …

A series of mouse skulls (Image by Hu Zhao); featured image for Winner of the December 2013 USC Stem Cell Image of the Month Contest

Winner of the December 2013 USC Stem Cell Image of the Month Contest

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Dr. Andy McMahon and the judges of the USC Stem Cell Image of the Month contest would like to congratulate our December 2013 winner, Dr. Hu Zhao, DDS, PhD, a research associate …

Keynote speaker Clive Svendsen (right) and Director Andy McMahon; featured image for A Retreat from everything but stem cells

A Retreat from everything but stem cells

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It wasn’t the pristine 27-hole course that drew more than 120 stem cell researchers from USC and beyond to the Desert Princess Golf Resort near Palm Springs. It was the sixth annual …

Yang Chai (Photo courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for Ostrow School study links growth factor glitch to tongue defects

Ostrow School study links growth factor glitch to tongue defects

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New findings about how cell signaling directs tongue development may have big clinical applications for healing tongue defects, according to an Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC study published in The Journal …

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Yang Chai, DDS, PhD