Research That Matters
From the classroom to the lab, USC’s culture of innovation fosters groundbreaking approaches to curing diseases, advancing technology and improving our world. USC experts are also doing the unexpected, such as examining Egyptian mummies with CT scanners to learn clues about the men’s health, experiences and lifespans.
(Photo/Ricardo Carrasco III)
Top Headlines
After a devastating marine heatwave hit the Florida Keys in 2023, USC Dornsife coral biologists are collaborating with nationally esteemed marine labs to save the troubled reefs.
Meet the 19 Trojans who have been awarded the prestigious grants this academic year.
Graduates of USC’s music school take home top honors on music’s biggest night.
The Pasadena-based bank, chaired by USC Trustee Dominic Ng, bridges worlds, communities and people through their support of the arts.
A Research Powerhouse
Research is fundamental to USC’s mission. It expands human knowledge, cures diseases and saves lives, and serves our community, economy and nation.
Daily Research, Far-Reaching Breakthroughs
In labs across USC’s campuses, experts in the fields work side-by-side with postdoctoral researchers, doctoral candidates and even undergraduate students. Their discoveries literally change the world.
Hastings Foundation makes new, long-term pledge to support pulmonary research at USC
The Pasadena-based foundation’s total support of USC research now tops $75 million since 1961.
USC scientists identify promising new target for Alzheimer’s-linked brain inflammation
A multidisciplinary team has developed a selective compound that inhibits an enzyme tied to inflammation in people at genetic risk for Alzheimer’s — while preserving normal brain function and crossing the blood-brain barrier.
Shingles vaccine linked to slower biological aging in older adults
A USC study finds that vaccination correlates with lower inflammation, slower epigenetic and transcriptomic aging, and slower overall biological aging in Americans age 70 and older.
Two essential coral species are now basically extinct, but USC experts aren’t giving up hope
After a devastating marine heatwave hit the Florida Keys in 2023, USC Dornsife coral biologists are collaborating with nationally esteemed marine labs to save the troubled reefs.
How hidden factors beneath Istanbul shape earthquake risk
Underground heat and sediment patterns control how earthquakes behave along one of the most dangerous faults in the eastern Mediterranean.
From Lab to Life: Research at USC
From hearing health and teen brain research to new cancer and metabolic insights, these stories spotlight USC discoveries with practical implications.
Hearing Devices Linked to Better Social Well-Being for Adults With Hearing Loss
A USC study led by Keck Medicine of USC’s Janet Choi found hearing aids and cochlear implants are associated with improved social engagement and reduced isolation. The team conducted a systematic review of 65 studies with more than 5,000 participants.
“Forever Chemicals” May Blunt Blood Sugar Gains After Teen Bariatric Surgery
Keck School of Medicine of USC researchers found teens with higher PFAS levels measured before bariatric surgery had smaller improvements in fasting glucose and HbA1c over five years. Results were published in Environmental Endocrinology.
Two Brain Scans Improve Prediction of Teen Anxiety Risk
A USC Dornsife study reports that combining EEG and fMRI data improves predictions of which adolescents are likely to experience greater anxiety as they get older, potentially years before symptoms appear. The work was published in JAMA Network Open and used a long-running cohort followed from infancy through adolescence.
Focused Ultrasound Helps “Flag” Solid Tumors for CAR T-Cell Attack
USC Viterbi researchers used focused ultrasound to prompt solid tumor cells to express CD19, creating a clearer target for CAR T-cells. The work was published in Nature Materials.
USC Urology Scales Up New Approaches to Detecting and Treating Cancer
Led by Inderbir Gill, USC Urology is expanding efforts to improve how urologic cancers are detected and treated by uniting clinical expertise with research and innovation. Recent progress includes a novel bladder cancer medication now in clinical trials with FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation, along with advances in radiogenomics and AI-supported surgical tools
From Everest to Data: Lucy Westlake Studies the Mountains She Climbs
Lucy Westlake, identified as the youngest American woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, is pairing her climbing experience with growing interests in data and research at the USC Price School. She describes visible glacier melt from returning to the same mountains over time.
Spotlight: USC Bovard College
Over the past 10 years, USC Bovard College has emerged as a globally recognized innovator in online education for working professionals. Through industry-engaged faculty, cutting-edge technology and a student-centered learning experience, Bovard College equips lifelong learners with the skills and expertise employers are seeking today — and in the future. Entering its next decade, the college continues to evolve alongside rapidly changing fields, supporting graduates at every stage of their professional journeys.
Around the University
State of the University Addresses
The university community is invited to the annual State of the University addresses with USC Interim President Beong-Soo Kim. There will be two addresses:
- 8 a.m. Monday, Feb. 9, in Mayer Auditorium on the Health Sciences Campus.
- 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, in Bovard Auditorium, on the University Park Campus.
Register online (code address).
