Research That Matters
USC scientists are developing a new drug aimed at a previously unexplored biological target in Alzheimer’s disease, aided by an $8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. It’s just one example of how Trojans’ ingenuity is making a real difference in people’s lives.
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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.
Brain’s blood flow could change how we understand and treat Alzheimer’s
A new USC Viterbi-led study focusing on brain’s vascular dynamics challenges the current prevailing method of dementia diagnosis and treatment.
$4M grant from the John Templeton Foundation funds a new research frontier for the cosmos
USC researchers join colleagues at UC Riverside and the Carnegie Science Observatories in establishing a research hub focused on dark matter and neutrinos.
Study identifies three deadliest risk factors of a common liver disease
Patients with a chronic liver disease known as MASLD who have high blood pressure, pre-diabetes/diabetes or low HDL cholesterol are at greatest risk, USC researchers find.
AI is changing how students learn — or avoid learning
A USC study reveals most students use tools like ChatGPT to shortcut assignments, unless professors actively guide them toward deeper, more thoughtful usage.
Trojan honored by American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Doctoral student Shuwan Liu receives a 2025 Young Investigator Award for her work examining which signals drive cells to heal large-scale bone injuries.
Study reveals how HPV reprograms immune cells to help cancer grow
STORY AND VIDEO: By uncovering how cervical and throat cancers linked to HPV evade the immune system, USC researchers open the door to new treatment strategies.
Top Headlines
A USC study reveals most students use tools like ChatGPT to shortcut assignments, unless professors actively guide them toward deeper, more thoughtful usage.
Patients with a chronic liver disease known as MASLD who have high blood pressure, pre-diabetes/diabetes or low HDL cholesterol are at greatest risk, USC researchers find.
The gift by USC Trustee Leonard D. Schaeffer creates center to bolster democracy and strengthen civic trust at home and abroad.
The hospital is a recipient of Vizient’s Birnbaum Quality Leadership Performance award, which recognizes top performers’ quality of patient care.
Transformative Research Across Campus
From pioneering stem cell therapies to AI breakthroughs and quantum innovations, USC researchers are redefining what’s possible in medicine, technology, and society. Explore the discoveries that are saving lives today and advancing knowledge that is transforming the world we live in.
Healing the Heart With Stem Cells
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.

From Gills to Ears: Tracing the Origins of Hearing
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.

Next-Gen Electronics at the Atomic Scale
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.

Predicting Airport Hotspots to Stop Wildlife Crime
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.

How Deep Reflection Shapes the Adolescent Brain
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.

Redefining Religion for a Changing Nation
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.

Measuring the Speed of Brain Aging
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.

Cracking the Code of Human Decision-Making
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.

USC Tests Steam Therapy for Safer Cancer Care
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.

USC and the Big Ten: Driving Health, Opportunity and Stronger Communities
USC joins fellow Big Ten universities in advancing healthier lives, stronger communities and greater opportunities nationwide. Together, we deliver lifesaving medical breakthroughs, build safer food systems and fuel economic growth through education and innovation. With more than 817,000 students educated each year and $19.6 billion in research conducted, the Big Ten is shaping a brighter future — in Los Angeles and across America.

Spotlight: USC Rossier School of Education
The USC Rossier School of Education is a national leader in transforming education systems through equity-focused teaching, research and leadership. From preparing educators to advancing policy and practice, USC Rossier drives meaningful change in K–12 schools, higher education and communities around the world.
USC Announces Presidential Search Committee, Interim Leadership
The committee includes faculty, staff, students and alumni. Beong-Soo Kim, USC general counsel, is serving as USC’s interim president.

