Stem Cell News
The autism-linked gene SYNGAP1 could impact early stages of human brain development, USC study reveals
New research shows that variants of SYNGAP1, a gene previously thought only to affect synapses between mature neurons, may disrupt early development in the brain’s cortex, a region involved in higher-order cognitive functions in humans. By Cristy Lytal Two sculptures representing a human neuron and a radial glia cell,… Read More »
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The autism-linked gene SYNGAP1 could impact early stages of human brain development, USC study reveals
November 9th, 2023New research shows that variants of SYNGAP1, a gene previously thought only to affect synapses between mature neurons, may disrupt early development in the brain’s cortex, a region involved in higher-order cognitive…
USC Stem Cell research from Justin Ichida’s lab advances toward clinical development for ALS, following a license agreement between companies Takeda and AcuraStem
November 6th, 2023By Cristy Lytal Justin Ichida (Photo by Ben Gibbs) USC Stem Cell scientist Justin Ichida has learned to inhabit two worlds: the university where his lab makes discoveries, and the companies that…
Why are male kidneys more vulnerable to disease than female kidneys?
September 8th, 2023USC Stem Cell-led mouse study points to testosterone. By Cristy Lytal Two of the genes—Gsta4 in red and Cyp4a14 in green—that are more active in female mouse kidneys (blue) (Image by Jing…
ALS and frontotemporal dementia show origins in utero, according to evidence from mice and patient-derived stem cells
August 18th, 2023By Cristy Lytal (Image by Eric Hendricks/Ichida Lab) Even though neurodegenerative diseases often strike in middle age or later, patients could have structural differences in their brains that arise before birth. In…
USC Stem Cell mouse studies tune into hearing regeneration
August 14th, 2023By Cristy Lytal Rows of sensory hearing cells (green) next to supporting cells (red) in the inner ear of a mouse (Image by John Duc Nguyen and Juan Llamas/Segil Lab) A deafened…
Researchers unlock mystery of cartilage regeneration in lizards
August 10th, 2023Scientists from the Keck School of Medicine of USC identify key cells involved in the process of cartilage regeneration in lizards—a discovery that could offer insights into novel approaches to treating osteoarthritis….
Stem Cell PhD student Alma Zuniga Munoz wins USC’s first Gilliam Fellowship from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
July 31st, 2023By Cristy Lytal Alma Zuniga Munoz and Albert Almada (Photo by Cristy Lytal) Alma Zuniga Munoz, a student in USC’s PhD program in Development, Stem Cells, and Regeneration, is used to being…
Senta Georgia reflects on Title IX and becoming the first Black PhD scientist to earn tenure at the Keck School of Medicine of USC
June 27th, 2023BY Cristy Lytal Senta Georgia (Photo by Sergio Bianco) When USC Stem Cell researcher Senta Georgia was granted tenure on March 10, 2023, she became the first Black PhD scientist to earn this promotion…
USC Stem Cell’s journey towards 1,000 mini-kidneys begins with $1 million from KidneyX
June 13th, 2023By Cristy Lytal From left, Fokion Glykofrydis, Nils Lindström, Leonardo Morsut, and Connor Fausto (Photo by Sergio Bianco) To help patients in need of transplants, artificial kidneys would have to function…
Why does a leukemic mutation not always lead to leukemia? A new clue from a mouse study at USC
March 23rd, 2023By Cristy Lytal From left, study authors Jiya Eerdeng, Ivon Garcia, Rong Lu, Charles Bramlett, Mary Vergel-Rodriguez, and Yeachan Lee (Photo by Bowen Wang) Why do some people with a genetic mutation…