USC Stem Cell

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: viterbischool.usc.edu/news/2026/04/h…

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.

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

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: stemcell.keck.usc.edu/usc-researcher…

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.

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

USC Presidential Scholar Taylor Renneker studied stem cells at @KECKSchool_USC and trained at White Memorial Hospital through @USCDornsife’s Gateway Internship Program. She starts med school this summer and hopes to one day open her own clinic. dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/c…

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, @USCStemCell

Congratulations to Dr. Qi-Long Ying on having your photo selected as the Biomedical Picture of the Day!

Maui-raised Alara Berkmen, daughter of Turkish immigrant physicians, is graduating from @USCViterbi in Biomedical Engineering (pre-med). A CIRM Compass Scholar at USC Stem Cell, she’s spent 2 years in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. viterbischool.usc.edu/news/2026/04/f….

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.

Congratulations Dr. Lenz!

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. stemcell.keck.usc.edu/usc-honors-ste… @KECKSchool_USC

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.

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: stemcell.keck.usc.edu/stem-cell-day-…. @KECKSchool_USC

Congratulations to Dr. Mohamed Abou-el-Enein who was named Outstanding New Investigator by @ASGCTherapy! 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: stemcell.keck.usc.edu/usc-physician-…

Meet USC's stem cell master's program scholarship recipients, Dean's Fellow Erik Gutierrez & Cardinal & Dhablania-Kim Fellows Logan Beharry, Ken Furuichi, & Brian Rubio: combining science with service. Full story: bit.ly/4s1sPfz @DeanMeltzer @KECKSchool_USC

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 success.

USC Stem Cell doctoral student Wynnie Nguyen aims to shift paradigms in #Alzheimers research. Nguyen was awarded a grant from the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund for studies aiming to stimulate growth of new brain cells & ultimately, reverse the course of #dementia. bit.ly/40UITod

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.