USC Stem Cell

07/30/2026

A groundbreaking collaboration between the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and the Keck School of Medicine of USC is shedding new light on one of cancer immunotherapy’s greatest challenges: the physical softness of tumors.

Published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the research reveals how soft tumor environments help cancer cells evade detection and resist treatment. The team developed an innovative genetic tool that can identify and target these elusive cells, including cancer stem-like cells that drive tumor growth, drug resistance, and recurrence.

Led by first author Jenny Yunjia Qu, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Peter Yingxiao Wang, the study represents a significant step toward more effective cancer immunotherapies and improved outcomes for patients.

Read more:

USC researchers have developed a new "black box" tool to measure the softness of tumor cells, an insight that could be crucial for more effective cancer treatment.

07/08/2026

Could the gut microbiome play a role in fertility?

New research from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, led by primary author Bérénice Benayoun, PhD, a principal investigator with USC Stem Cell, found that changes to the gut microbiome improved ovarian function in mice, opening new avenues for understanding the connection between gut microbes, fertility, and reproductive aging.

While the findings are early, they highlight the potential for future research into how the gut microbiome could shape reproductive health and healthy aging.

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Understanding how the microbiome and reproductive system interact could lead to better treatment options for fertility and overall health as women age.

07/02/2026

What Is USC COMPASS?

• 2-year intensive program focused on stem cell biology and regenerative medicine
• Hands-on research with personalized mentoring
• Patient engagement and outreach opportunities
• Substantial financial stipend and tuition support
• Open to students in ALL majors

Application deadline is January 27, 2025, apply now at https://compass.usc.edu/apply/

07/02/2026

USC researchers just got one step closer to growing kidney tissue that behaves like the real thing. In a study published in the journal Science, a team from the Keck School of Medicine of USC discovered a previously unrecognized axis that helps organize how a kidney forms, then built synthetic organizer cells to recreate that signal inside lab grown kidney organoids.
Led by Nils Lindström, PhD and Leonardo Morsut, PhD, the work makes these lab grown models more reliable for studying kidney disease and testing potential therapies, while supporting long term efforts to one day grow transplantable kidney tissue.
It is discoveries like this, made possible by collaboration across USC Stem Cell and USC Viterbi School of Engineering, that keep pushing medicine forward.
Read more about the study https://stemcell.keck.usc.edu/synthetic-organizer-cells-to-improve-kidney-organoids/

06/19/2026

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.

In this study published in Cell, Qi-Long Ying, PhD, professor of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and Stanford collaborators developed a way to grow and genetically engineer the progenitor cells that give rise to macrophages, immune cells with promising potential for treating solid tumors, blood cancers and other diseases.

The researchers also engineered these cells to recognize cancer and stimulate broader anti-tumor immune responses, bringing scientists one step closer to more effective immunotherapies.

Collaborators in the lab of Ravi Majeti, MD, PhD, director of Stanford's Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, were also able to independently reproduce and maintain these genetically-engineered progenitor cells – further validation of the potential for this crucial work.

Learn more about this incredible study here: https://stemcell.keck.usc.edu/renewable-cell-source-for-cancer-immunotherapy-and-beyond/.

06/16/2026

Calling all PhD students in developmental biology, stem cell biology, and regenerative medicine! Applications are now open for the 2026 NIH T32 PhD Fellowships in Developmental Biology, Stem Cells, and Regeneration. Eligible students are encouraged to apply by July 3 for this competitive training opportunity.

Find eligibility requirements and application instructions at the link below.

All PhD students who are conducting research related to developmental biology, stem cell biology, and/or regenerative medicine are encouraged to apply for a training fellowship. We have two slots available for a US Citizen and one slot available for international or US citizen student. Funding will....

06/12/2026

When Tiffany Wang arrived at USC as a first-generation student, she was searching for a sense of belonging. Four years later, she's graduating as an award-winning researcher, student leader, COMPASS Fellow, and QuestBridge Scholar, and helping others find their place along the way.

What began as an interest in medicine inspired by her grandmother evolved into a passion for gerontology and a community she now calls family.

Read how Tiffany transformed her USC experience through research, leadership, and purpose below.

https://bit.ly/3QgHqXu

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

06/03/2026

USC Stem Cell and SPARK at USC are launching the Innovation Catalyst Grant in Regenerative Medicine, a new funding opportunity designed to accelerate promising therapeutics and diagnostics from the lab to the clinic. The program supports regenerative medicine innovations and strongly encourages the integration of AI technologies.

Awardees will receive up to $50,000 in milestone-based funding, project management support, educational programming, mentorship from regenerative medicine and commercialization experts, and access to industry advisors, venture capital networks, and other strategic partners. Participants will also gain valuable guidance on company formation, clinical approval pathways, and pursuing future funding opportunities, including SBIR grants.

Applications are open to researchers seeking to translate groundbreaking discoveries into real-world patient impact. Applications are due June 30, 2026.

Learn more and apply:https://stemcell.keck.usc.edu/2026-usc-stem-cell-spark-at-usc-innovation-catalyst-grant-in-regenerative-medicine/.

The USC Stem Cell/SPARK at USC grant is focused on the support of regenerative medicine innovation (therapeutics or diagnostics). Integration of AI technology is highly encouraged.The new SPARK at USC program is part of the SPARK Global program with the goal of accelerating the translation of academ...

05/29/2026

Congratulations to Keyue Shen, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at USC Viterbi School of Engineering, USC Stem Cell-affiliated faculty member, and member of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at Keck Medicine of USC, on being elected to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows, one of the highest honors in the field. Shen was recognized for developing innovative tools that enable researchers to measure how living cells signal and interact in real time, advancing disease research and potential treatments.

Read the full article here:

USC biomedical engineer Keyue Shen has been elected to the AIMBE College of Fellows for developing tools that measure how living cells signal and interact in real time - without destroying them.

05/27/2026

Last week, NIH T32 & CIRM-funded trainees, led by Fifi Pan and Sara Lydon, proudly hosted our annual student-led Stem Cell Symposium: Directing Stem Cell Science Toward Clinical Solutions.

We brought together experts leading the translational frontier to our USC campus, spanning cartilage reprogramming, cardiac fibrosis, retinal regeneration, and bone repair:

🔬 Dr. Nidhi Bhutani (Stanford): Rethinking how we approach cartilage regeneration through cellular reprogramming

🔬 Dr. Jennifer Davis (Univ. of Washington): Unlocking the role of cardiac fibroblasts in heart remodeling & recovery

🔬 Dr. Rachelle Crosbie (UCLA): Connecting muscle cell biology and the ECM to restore regeneration

🔬 Dr. Thomas Reh (Univ. of Washington): In vivo reprogramming for retinal disease treatment

🔬 Dr. Katie Hixon (Dartmouth): Targeting senescence to unlock stem cell-mediated bone repair

Beyond the keynotes, trainee speakers Eric Paulissen, Connor Fausto, and Alma Munoz presented their work alongside 10+ trainee posters. Connor also organized a stunning imaging competition showcasing awe-inspiring images from 8 labs across our community. This is what the future of regenerative medicine looks like.

None of this would have been possible without our all-student organizing team, our faculty advisors Chuck Murry, Gage Crump, and Francesca Mariani, and our generous sponsors: QIAGEN and Parse Biosciences (Gold Tier) and RWD, Thermo Fisher, and MedChemExpress (Silver Tier).

Thank you to everyone who came, engaged, and helped bring this to life. We are so excited to see our stem cell community grow and inspire each other toward clinical impact. 🙌

Arshia Uttam, Cami Acosta, Conner Fausto, Drain Gamble, Emilie Chen, Gabriel Elizalde, Hsuan Chen, Jean-Paul Urenda, Lola Takhirov, Marcella Birtele, Megan Schreiber, Negar Hosseini, Pedro Medina, Wynnie Ngyuen, Zachary Fouladian