iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 16/07/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Eda Atmaca on successfully defending her PhD dissertation! Her groundbreaking research on ZNF462 and human neurodevelopment advances our understanding of Weiss-Kruszka syndrome and lays the foundation for future discoveries in neurodevelopmental disorders.

a group of 6 people standing in front of an auditorium.

A group of people posing together indoors, with a few seated in the front and others standing behind them. The setting appears to be a modern conference or meeting area.

000

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 19/06/2026

USC Stem Cell scientists and Stanford collaborators have developed a renewable source of immune cells that could help advance cancer immunotherapies and treatments for other diseases. Learn more about this incredible study here: bit.ly/4vlxM5k.

Engineered immune cells (red) attacking breast cancer cells (blue). The red cells are genetically
engineered macrophages designed to selectively recognize, engulf and destroy breast cancer cells
(blue), demonstrating a promising new cell-based immunotherapy approach. (Image by Shi Yue/Ying
Lab)

010

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 12/06/2026

When Tiffany Wang arrived at USC as a first-generation student, she was searching for belonging. Four years later, she's graduating as an award-winning researcher, student leader, COMPASS Fellow, and QuestBridge Scholar. Read more here: bit.ly/3QgHqXu

gero.usc.edu

2026 BS in Human Development and Aging Grad Finds Belonging, Embraces Research and Leadership

A first-generation college student, BS in Human Development & Aging grad Tiffany Wang treasures the support she found at the USC Leonard Davis School.

011

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 21/05/2026

USC researcher and USC Stem Cell affiliate PI Eunji Chung, PhD, spent over a decade learning to steer nanoparticles through the body. Now she’s using that knowledge to take on one of the most common inherited kidney disorders. Read the full article here: bit.ly/4wNMa7G

viterbischool.usc.edu

How an unexpected finding turned into a kidney disease startup - USC Viterbi | School of Engineering

USC researcher Eunji Chung spent over a decade learning to steer nanoparticles through the body. Now she's using that knowledge to take on one of the most common inherited kidney disorders.

010

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 21/05/2026

USC undergraduates took center stage at USC CIRM COMPASS Scholars Program symposium, presenting stem cell research that’s shaping the future of regenerative medicine. Through mentorship and hands-on lab experience, USC is helping train the next generation of stem cell scientists. 📷 Amor Mathershed

A group of people wearing white outfits and red stoles sit and stand around a wooden bench outdoors. They appear to be celebrating a graduation event. Trees and a building are visible in the background.

000

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 20/05/2026

Every sound you've ever heard passed through these tiny structures. This fluorescent microscopic image of the inner ear shows green auditory hair cells 💚, the sensory receptors that detect sound, surrounded by 🔴 red supporting cells that help them function. 📸 Ksenia Gnedeva, PhD

000

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 18/05/2026

A team led by USC Stem Cell scientist Zhongwei Li, PhD, has launched a study of the most complex lab-grown kidney structures developed by USC researchers. Learn more about this incredible work here: bit.ly/49aVSXv

Lab grown human synthetic kidney organoids (hSKOs), also known as human kidney progenitor assembloids (hKPAs), showing the formation of radial nephrons connected to a central collecting system. (Image by Pedro Medina/Li Lab/USC Stem Cell)

020

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 16/05/2026

The Artist and Researcher exhibit series celebrates the shared curiosity behind art and science, connecting creativity, discovery, and new ways of seeing the world. 🎨🔬 Proud to see USC Stem Cell members featured in this collaboration.

A person is speaking into a microphone while holding a phone. They are standing in front of a poster with the word "SynNotch" and a circuit design in blue.

A person holds a microphone and points at a translucent model of a fish skeleton on display. The model includes labeled sections for cartilage, bone, and gene expression. A sign with color-coded diagrams is on the wall behind the model.

Two people are standing in front of posters on a wall. One holds a microphone and faces a colorful poster titled "Genomics: SNP Mapping." The other person is smiling and looking at the speaker. Another poster titled "Luminous Motion" is partially visible in the background.

Two people are viewed from behind, looking at a colorful art piece on a wall. The artwork features vibrant colors and abstract shapes on a black background.

010

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 09/05/2026

Join us May 20 (9AM–5PM) at USC Health Sciences Campus for the “Directing Stem Cell Science Toward Clinical Solutions” symposium. Hear from leading experts and explore how stem cell research is advancing toward real-world clinical impact. Register here: bit.ly/4u2ifXB

This is a flyer for the USC Stem Cell T32 & CIRM Training Program event titled "Directing Stem Cell Science Toward Clinical Solutions." It features a list of speakers with their topics, including Nidhi Bhutani, Jennifer Davis, Rebekah Crosbie, Thomas Rando, and Katie Hixon. The event is on May 20, 2026, from 9 am to 5 pm at the Aresty Auditorium, USC Health Sciences Campus. A QR code and event registration information are included. Logos for T32, CIRM, and USC Stem Cell are also displayed.

010

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 06/05/2026

USC Presidential Scholar Taylor Renneker studied stem cells at @keckschoolusc.bsky.social and trained at White Memorial Hospital through USC Dornsife’s Gateway Internship Program. She starts med school this summer and hopes to one day open her own clinic. Learn more: bit.ly/4wbICvu

dornsife.usc.edu

Health challenges fuel two graduating seniors’ passion for medicine

USC Dornsife graduates head to medical school, driven by research, service and their own experiences with childhood illness

000

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 06/05/2026

This is what a kidney filter looks like the moment it’s born: 🔵 stem cells (nephron progenitors) awaiting signals, 🟣 a forming filter already transforming, ⬜ the collecting duct directing the process. Microscopic video courtesy of Nils Lindström, PhD, at USC Stem Cell

000

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 06/05/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Qi-Long Ying, whose photo, highlighting GSK3α as a key checkpoint in stem cell fate, where its inhibition preserves self-renewal capacity, has been selected as the Biomedical Picture of the Day. bpod.org.uk/archive/2026/5/5

bpod.org.uk

BPoD | Common Checkpoint

Common Checkpoint - Biomedical pictures for May 2026.

010

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 02/05/2026

Throwing it back to a visit we won't forget. 🙌 Grateful for the time President Kim spent with us exploring the future of regenerative medicine.

A group of people engaged in a meeting around a large conference table. A person at the head of the table appears to be speaking. A large monitor is mounted on the wall in the background. The setting suggests a professional environment.

A group of people are engaged in a discussion in a laboratory setting, surrounded by scientific equipment.

A group of people are in a laboratory setting. One person is wearing a lab coat, and two others are in business attire, shaking hands with another individual in a casual jacket. Lab equipment and shelves are visible in the background.

000

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 21/04/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Andy McMahon on receiving the 2026 USC Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring a pioneering career in developmental biology, building scientific communities, and the founding of USC Stem Cell. bit.ly/4u188S7

Two individuals stand side by side, smiling, with one holding a framed certificate titled "University of Southern California" and mentioning "Andrew McMahon." Both are dressed in formal attire, and one person is wearing medals on their jacket. A golden curtain serves as the backdrop.

Three individuals posing for a photo at a formal sit down dinner banquet hall. The individual in the middle is wearing a medal on their jacket.

A group of people posing together in front of a brick building with large windows. One person in the front row is wearing a medal.

A group of four people in a lab, all wearing white coats, stand around a lab bench with various scientific equipment and supplies on shelves. One member is holding a document, which they are all looking at. The setting is a typical research laboratory, with bright lighting and ample workspace.

140

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 16/04/2026

Amazing work coming from the lab of Dr. Qi-Long Ying, identifying GSK3α as a “stemness checkpoint” that regulates differentiation across multiple stem cell types and species. This discovery introduces a unifying framework for understanding how stem cells maintain their identity.

000

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 03/04/2026

LA teens visited USC's Health Sciences Campus for Stem Cell Day, touring labs, building hands-on skills & competing in Stem Cell Jeopardy. A front-row look at biomedical research & careers in regenerative medicine. Read more: bit.ly/4drAGiX.

In a laboratory setting, individuals wearing white lab coats work at a lab bench surrounded by scientific equipment. Supplies from Thermo Fisher Scientific are visible.

Three individuals in lab coats work in a laboratory setting. One person is seated, conducting an experiment inside a biosafety cabinet, while the other two observe closely. There is lab equipment and a waste bin nearby.

Two people in a laboratory setting are working under a fume hood. They are wearing protective clothing, including gloves and lab coats. One person is using a pipette to transfer liquid into small vials on a tray, while various lab equipment and containers are visible on the surface.

A person is presenting a slide in a lecture room. The slide title is "Stem Cell Basics: 400" and it reads, "These adult stem cells are found in the bone marrow."

010

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 02/04/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Mohamed Abou-el-Enein who named Outstanding New Investigator by @asgct.bsky.social! He & Amaia Cadinanos-Garai also won Best of Molecular Therapy for their paper on identifying the most effective CAR T cells against cancer. Read more: bit.ly/4bQN9LK

021

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 27/03/2026

Meet USC's stem cell master's program scholarship recipients, Dean's Fellow Erik Gutierrez and Cardinal & Dhablania-Kim Fellows Logan Beharry, Ken Furuichi, and Brian Rubio: combining medicine with mentorship, science with service. Learn more here: bit.ly/4s1sPfz @keckschoolusc.bsky.social

000

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 26/03/2026

The heat was ON! On March 13th, USC Stem Cell hosted its first-ever Spice Competition, inviting team members to showcase their culinary creativity through one shared passion, bold, spicy flavors. Congratulations to all who participated and made this first competition a memorable success.

A group of four people standing in front of a whiteboard. They are each holding a wooden spoon and small trophy. The atmosphere is casual and cheerful.

A group of people are gathered around a long conference table with various food items placed on it. There are decorative lights shaped like chili peppers along the middle of the table. The atmosphere appears casual and social.

A group of people gathered around a conference table with various dishes for a meal. The room is decorated with colorful string lights. A large TV screen displays a person's image. The atmosphere appears casual and social.

010

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 19/03/2026

Parkinson’s disease affects more than one million Americans. No cure or therapy slows progression, but Keck Medicine of USC is testing stem cells to replace damaged brain cells in an early clinical trial. Read the full article here: bit.ly/4sQ5EW9.

bit.ly

New stem cell treatment may offer hope for Parkinson’s disease

LOS ANGELES — Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects more than one million people in the United States, with approximately 90,000 new cases diagnosed each year. A...

000

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 10/03/2026

Dr. Yang Chai's path to USC from China led the clinician-scientist through resilience and growth, and now the Ostrow Dean will nurture learning, patient care and research into the future. Read the full feature story here: dentistry.usc.edu/growing-a-garden-…

000

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 05/03/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Giorgia Quadrato on her @isscr.org Early Career Award Honorable Mention! A global leader in human brain organoid research, she's driving breakthroughs in neuroscience, developmental biology & regenerative medicine. So well deserved! bit.ly/40RFE0B

Dr. Georgia Quadrato in a laboratory coat and gloves is placing or retrieving a container from an incubator filled with similar jars. They are standing in a lab environment, focusing on their task.

021

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 03/03/2026

We are thrilled to congratulate Dr. Ksenia Gnedeva on receiving the 2026 Geraldine Dietz Fox Young Investigator Award from the Association for Research in Otolaryngology (@aro-mwm.bsky.social) for her work in understanding the development and regeneration of the inner ear's sensory hearing cells.

000

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 17/02/2026

Take a journey into the world of stem cell biology with our Masters program at USC! Our application portal is open! If you would like to learn more, please register for our INFO SESSION on Feb. 20, by clicking here: bit.ly/3JqJJUu.

The image is an advertisement for the Keck School of Medicine of USC, promoting its Master of Science in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. It highlights features such as nationally recognized faculty, hands-on experience, and optional second year with thesis. A colorful cellular image is displayed on the right side, alongside a QR code for registration. Text at the top mentions current application acceptance and an information session on Zoom scheduled for February 20th at 1 pm.

010

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 23/12/2025

010

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 19/12/2025

Can stem cells rebuild skeletal muscle? Albert Almada, PhD, from USC Stem Cell explains.

010

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 16/12/2025

Did you know that your body makes about 2 million blood cells every second? Dr. Rong Lu’s lab studies how hematopoietic regeneration is regulated and how we could improve bone marrow transplantation to help patients with blood disorders such as leukemia, anemia, and immune deficiencies.

030

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 12/12/2025

At @keckschoolusc.bsky.social, trailblazing researchers are redefining what’s possible in medicine. Visionaries Drs. Chuck Murry, Summer Decker, and Hussein Yassine are leading breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s prevention, medical 3D printing and cardiac regeneration. Learn more: bit.ly/3MwWaj2

From left: Chuck Murry, MD, PhD; Summer Decker, PhD; Hussein Yassine, MD (Photo/Steve Cohn, Eden Dozier, Richard Carrasco)

020

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 26/11/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from our department! 🍂 Our department gathered to celebrate the season and we are grateful for the community that makes our work meaningful. Thank you to everyone who joined and helped make the event special. We are grateful for this community today and always.

Group of people smiling at a potluck in an office, holding plates of food with a variety of dishes and snacks on the table in front of them.

Group of people seated at a table enjoying a meal together in a well-lit room.

Four people sitting at a table enjoying a meal together in a cafeteria-style setting, with beverages and food plates visible.

Three individuals seated at a table inside a room enjoying a meal together.

020

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 25/11/2025

What can we learn from people who live for 30-40 years with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks motor neurons. The Ichida Lab is doing research in ALS to find out.

010

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 21/11/2025

What can lizard tail regrowth teach us about regeneration? Tom Lozito, PhD, Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, breaks down the science, and how these insights could push his research forward.

030

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 11/11/2025

Take a journey into the world of stem cell biology with our USC Stem Cell master's program @keckschoolusc.bsky.social! Our info session will take place on Nov. 20, and the application portal is open at gradadm.usc.edu.

010

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 07/11/2025

Did you know zebrafish share many of the same genes as humans? Gage Crump, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at USC Stem Cell, explains how this tiny fish is helping advance human health research. @keckschoolusc.bsky.social

051

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 31/10/2025

Promotional graphic for Keck School of Medicine of USC, featuring an overview of their Master of Science in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine program. Highlights include hands-on experience, nationally recognized faculty, and a growing field. A QR code for registering to a Zoom information session on November 20th is displayed alongside an image of cells under a microscope.

020

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 01/10/2025

Exciting breakthrough: USC Stem Cell researchers create genuine embryonic stem cells from birds using egg yolk! Discover more: stemcell.keck.usc.edu/study-genera....

010

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 19/09/2025

Which signals drive cells to heal large-scale bone injuries? For exploring this question, USC Stem Cell PhD student Shuwan Liu won a 2025 Young Investigator Award from the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. stemcell.keck.usc.edu/phd-student-...

stemcell.keck.usc.edu

USC Stem Cell PhD student Shuwan Liu receives award from the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research

Which signals drive cells to heal large-scale bone injuries? For her research into this question, USC Stem Cell PhD student Shuwan Liu has won a 2025 Young Investigator Award from the American Society...

000

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 17/09/2025

In a Cell Stem Cell paper, a team led by Zhongwei Li at USC Stem Cell combines kidney filtering and urine-concentrating components to make “assembloids,” the most mature and complex kidney structures ever grown in a lab and a tool for developing new therapies. stemcell.keck.usc.edu/team-makes-m...

020

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 03/09/2025

A Nature Communications paper from Nils Lindström's lab at USC Stem Cell identifies key molecular switches that generate distinct cell types within the kidney’s filtering units, or nephrons. The lab is getting closer to making therapeutic kidney cells on demand! stemcell.keck.usc.edu/scientists-u...

Kidney images (Images by MaryAnne Achieng/Lindstrom Lab/USC Stem Cell)

011

USC Stem Cell @stemcell.keck.usc.edu · 24/07/2025

Meet USC CIRM Scholar Alumnus Alex Quiyu Guo, Senior Scientist for Discovery Biomarkers at Amgen. stemcell.keck.usc.edu/cirm-scholar...

000

Reposted by USC Stem Cell

Keck School of Medicine of USC @keck.usc.edu · 11/07/2025

Stem cells are revolutionizing the way we approach healing. 🧪 Learn how Leonardo Morsut, PhD, with @stemcell.keck.usc.edu‬ and ‪@viterbischool.usc.edu‬ is leading the way in the field of regenerative medicine to ignite discovery in stem cell research. #MedSky #Science

032