Scholars and students share their own stories
A volunteer from the USC Joint Education Project teaches elementary school students about DNA using licorice and gumdrops.
Innovators across USC make news every day for their discoveries and their commitment to transform health. Get an inside look at their latest work below.
USC Leonard Davis School faculty honored for research, mentorship
Dean Pinchas Cohen and Vice Dean Sean Curran are recognized for extraordinary work in aging by the Gerontological Society of America.
Mission: Possible
USC is a top destination for students, faculty and staff seeking purpose-driven work, collaborative learning and innovative discovery — all because the university prioritized health, computing,
How USC uses state stem cell funding to train biotech leaders
More than 100 experts credit their training to a California Institute for Regenerative Medicine Scholars program at USC.
Cancer-fighting herpes virus shown to be effective treatment for some advanced melanoma
A genetically engineered herpes simplex virus, when combined with immunotherapy, reduces or eliminates tumors in one-third of clinical trial patients.
Mindfulness meditation can sharpen attention in adults of all ages
In a USC study, 30 days of app-guided meditation were linked to improvements in how quickly and accurately participants directed their focus.
USC cancer survivorship programs help patients thrive post-diagnosis
Cancer treatments are saving and extending more lives than ever. USC practitioners are guiding patients from diagnosis to treatment to facing their post-care future by connecting them with
USC cancer survivorship: A multidisciplinary effort
Teams of USC practitioners offer a broad range of support in areas including mental health, nutritional guidance, physical therapy, stress management and chronic pain.
Common medication for lung cancer symptoms found to limit effectiveness of immunotherapies
High doses of corticosteroids, prescribed to manage cancer-related symptoms or treatment side effects, are the most significant factor in why some immunotherapies don’t work.
Hearing devices improve more than just hearing — they significantly improve wearers’ social lives
A USC study shows hearing aids and cochlear implants make people more sociable and confident, improving overall well-being.
Wildfire smoke exposure, heat stress linked to adverse birth outcomes
Women in climate-vulnerable neighborhoods were especially affected, according to a recent study led by a USC postdoctoral researcher.
Wireless implant is game-changer for personalized chronic pain relief
USC researchers have developed a groundbreaking ultrasound device that could reduce our reliance on addictive painkillers.
Could electric fields supercharge immune attack on the deadliest form of brain cancer?
USC-led research finds that an electric field device placed on the scalp, along with immunotherapy and chemotherapy, may help patients with glioblastoma live longer.
Iron plays major role in Down syndrome-associated Alzheimer’s, USC study finds
Research indicates how iron-related oxidative damage and cell death may hasten the development of Alzheimer’s disease in people with Down syndrome.
How much of aging is a really just a roll of the dice?
“Biological stochasticity” — random events at the molecular and cellular level — might be one of the biggest, most overlooked drivers of differences in how we age, a USC gerontology expert says.
Most Medicare beneficiaries may pay more for drugs under the Inflation Reduction Act
Part D plans are accelerating cost-shifting to beneficiaries, many of whom won’t reach the law’s new spending cap, a USC Schaeffer Center white paper reports.
Why doctors choose to start their careers where they do
A new study from researchers at USC’s Viterbi Information Sciences Institute takes a data-driven look at geographic health care inequities.
Brain cell discovery may explain excessive hunger
Researchers identify “meal memory” neurons in laboratory rats that could explain why forgetting lunch leads to overeating.
USC Dornsife study reveals how protein droplets help cells master difficult DNA repair
Research uncovers a mechanism that protects the genome by avoiding catastrophic errors when repairing breaks in tightly packed DNA, a finding with implications for cancer and aging.
USC doctors are leading treatment of the post-COVID rise in alcohol-related liver disease
Alcohol-related liver disease has quietly surged to become the leading cause of alcohol-related deaths. USC is leading the charge to change that.
Solving a Silent Crisis
USC doctors are leading treatment of the post-covid rise in alcohol-related liver disease.
Quick thinking, preparation help save USC swimmer’s smile after accident
When a collision with a bus led to Pickles’ front tooth being knocked out, a campus awareness program — and save-a-tooth kits in the hands of DPS officers — made all the difference.
Quick thinking, preparation help save USC swimmer’s tooth after frightening accident
After a collision with a bus, a campus awareness program — and save-a-tooth kits in the hands of DPS officers — program helped save Evan Pickles’ smile.
Graduates apply a social work lens to a variety of disciplines
COMMENCEMENT: USC’s Social Work and Juvenile Justice undergraduate minor combines students’ passion for social advocacy with greater understanding of its impact on youngsters.
Even weak tropical cyclones raise infant mortality in poorer countries
A USC-led study finds that even storms below hurricane strength significantly increase infant deaths in low- and middle-income countries, and not just for the reasons experts expected.
Quest to become a nurse practitioner proves to be test of resiliency
COMMENCEMENT: Nicole Carson was determined to complete her Master of Science in Nursing degree from USC despite an unexpected move to Guam and multiple obstacles.
USC researchers develop low-cost blood test for early Alzheimer’s detection
In a proof-of-concept study, the test detected five key biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease — more than current commercially available blood tests can measure.
Study reveals link between Type 2 diabetes, brain health in older adults from various populations
Neuroimaging-based research reveals diabetes-related brain atrophy in older adults from different backgrounds.
Arts and Healthy Aging Center Fund launched with $2.5M gift, $1M matching opportunity
Gift and matching challenge from the Leonard and Sophie Davis Fund supports the study of artistic engagement and the aging process.
Changes in BMI during adolescence may explain link between pollution exposure, insulin resistance
The USC-led study’s findings uncover how the harmful effects of air pollution may contribute to long-term metabolic problems.
Uncovering a mental health crisis affecting American journalists
COMMENCEMENT: Henrick Karoliszyn created The Freelance Frontier intervention in USC’s Doctor of Social Work program to address a growing issue among journalists who cover traumatic events.
$10 million gift to launch longevity research accelerator at Keck School of Medicine of USC
The donation from R. Rex Parris and his wife, Carrol, will enable collaboration among experts in engineering, gerontology and stem cell research to find treatments for age-related conditions.
Empowering young athletes through social work
COMMENCEMENT: Allison Chapman is positively affecting the mental health development of youth in sports through the principles of social work.
USC, UCLA team up for the world’s first-in-human bladder transplant
The historic surgery — the result of years of research at Keck Medicine of USC and UCLA Health — opens the door for improved treatment of non-functioning bladders.
NIH awards $8 million for new USC Superfund Center to research and address ‘forever chemicals’
Experts in population health, engineering and medicine will study and address harms related to the manmade pollutants known as PFAS.
New compound targets circadian clock machinery in cells to fight glioblastoma
In USC-led research, the new drug candidate selectively attacked glioblastoma stem cells and passed early safety testing in a Phase 1 clinical trial.
Wearable, ‘smart’ lactation pad could protect babies from overexposure to common painkiller
A breast milk sensor developed by USC biomedical engineering team detects acetaminophen, other chemicals and nutrients in real time.
Study links maternal health risks during pregnancy to higher blood pressure in children
USC research finds that obesity, gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were tied to elevated blood pressure in offspring, with effects that grow as children age.
Use of nicotine pouches increases significantly among U.S. teens
A USC-led team found that about twice as many teens used nicotine pouches in 2024 than in 2023.
Pharmacies excluded from preferred networks face much higher risk of closure
The USC researchers also found that independent pharmacies and those in low-income, Black or Latino communities were more likely to be excluded from the preferred networks.
New insight into how the brain switches gears could help Parkinson’s patients
Biomedical engineering research at USC has unraveled a mystery of motor control that could be a game-changer for disorders like Parkinson’s and could aid in the development of bio-inspired systems.
Meet the 9 scholarship recipients of USC’s stem cell master’s program
The program has graduated more than 300 alumni who have entered medical and doctoral programs and pursued successful careers in academia, industry and beyond.
Trojan entrepreneur signs major deals to make preventive care accessible
USC Marshall alumnus Omar Abdullateef launches WellTra.Ai with support from the USC Marshall Greif Incubator and Greif Center’s New Venture Seed Competition.
Keck Hospital of USC receives 10th ‘A’ safety grade
The hospital is once again recognized by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety.
Proteins, pathways involved in inflammation are associated with changes in bone mineral density
The discovery by USC researchers could lead to the identification of biomarkers that would serve as early indicators of a person’s risk for bone health issues later in life.
How one USC sophomore’s algorithm is helping young cancer patients
Research from biomedical engineering student Arjun Karnwal is being used by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to improve cancer radiation treatments.
Blood pressure patterns during pregnancy predict later hypertension risk, study finds
In a study of Hispanic moms, USC researchers found a new way to identify women who face an elevated risk for hypertension but are overlooked by current medical guidelines.
Could artificial hibernation improve our longevity?
For animals such as bears, suspended animation allows the conservation of energy and survival amid harsh conditions. USC Viterbi”s Yaoheng “Mack” Yang is investigating whether the concept could
USC scientists find a gut-brain link that may affect behavior in children with autism
An imbalance in the microbiome disrupts neurotransmitter production and may manifest as social difficulties and repetitive behaviors.
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Joel Smith
Senior Associate Vice President
USC Health Sciences Advancement