Research That Matters

USC stem cell scientist Chuck Murry is advancing new ways to repair hearts damaged by heart attacks, aiming to help patients recover function that current treatments can’t restore. His team is developing methods to grow healthy heart muscle cells and safely integrate them into injured tissue, with the goal of strengthening the heart’s ability to pump blood and preventing long-term complications like heart failure. This breakthrough research brings the possibility of true healing—rather than symptom management—closer to reality for millions of people living with heart disease.

USC Stem Cell scientists discovered that the mammalian outer ear traces its origins to the cartilage of ancient fish gills. By comparing gene-regulating elements in human, mouse, and zebrafish tissue, they mapped a surprising evolutionary path that reveals how new anatomical structures emerge—insights that could inform regenerative medicine and developmental biology.

USC Dornsife physicists and collaborators built a tunnel junction just atoms thick that can both detect and control electron spins in antiferromagnetic materials. This breakthrough enables ultrafast, energy-efficient electronics and could drive advances in quantum sensing, high-speed communications, and secure next-generation devices.

USC Viterbi researchers created an AI model that flags airports likely involved in wildlife trafficking—even those with no prior seizures. By pinpointing hidden hotspots worldwide, the tool gives authorities actionable intelligence to screen cargo, train staff, and disrupt illegal trade before animals are harmed.

Led by Professor Mary Helen Immordino-Yang at USC Rossier’s CANDLE center, researchers found that teens who regularly reflect on big ethical and civic questions show stronger growth and coordination in key brain networks. This “transcendent thinking” supports healthier identity development and greater life satisfaction as they move into adulthood.

Professor Diane Winston is co-leading a three-year, $3.9 million national project to map how religion and spirituality are evolving in the United States. Focusing first on cities like Los Angeles, Boston, and Chicago, the team is exploring how Americans are reshaping community, leadership, and ritual—offering fresh insight into the changing landscape of faith.

USC Leonard Davis scientists developed an AI model that measures how quickly the brain ages using MRI scans over time. By spotting early signs of accelerated decline, the tool could help doctors identify dementia risk sooner and guide interventions to preserve memory and cognitive health.

Led by Dr. Nik Gurney at USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies, researchers showed how initial reference points and the way options are framed influence not just decisions but the process behind them. The findings can guide smarter design of tools, policies, and education to reduce bias and help people make more informed choices.

Keck Medicine of USC is testing a water-vapor therapy that uses targeted steam to destroy prostate cancer cells without surgery or radiation. The approach aims to reduce side effects and recovery time while offering a safer, less invasive treatment option for men with localized prostate cancer.